A New Primary Weapon For China’s Strategic Submarine Fleet: JL-3 Nuclear Ballistic Missile Unveiled

At a military parade on September 3 marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Asia, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army for the first time unveiled the new JL-3 submarine launched intercontinental range ballistic missile, which represents the core of the country’s maritime strategic deterrent. The missile closely resembles its predecessor the JL-2, which was seen at the country’s previous military parade on 1 October, 2019, with the newer missile reported to have been brought into service in early 2021. When integrated onto the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Type 094A Class ballistic missile submarines, the JL-3 significantly increases their combat potential, and allows them to strike targets across Europe and the American mainland from anywhere in Northeast Asia due to its far greater range than the older JL-2. It is also suspected that the new missile class will be able to carry a greater number of warheads, and to carry warheads with more reentry vehicles.

China’s maritime strategic deterrent remains far more limited in its capabilities compared to those of Russia and the United States, with only six Type 094 Class submarines currently serving, each of which can carry just 12 JL-2 or JL-3 ballistic missiles. To place this in perspective, the Russian Navy fields 13 ballistic missile submarines including five ageing Delta IV Class vessels and eight cutting edge Borei Class ships, with the latter each able to to carry 16 ballistic missiles. The Borei Class nevertheless carries less missiles relative to its weight, with the ships displacing 24,000 tons compared to just 11,000 tons for the Type 094 Class. The U.S. Navy deploys 18 Ohio Class ballistic missile submarines, which are also much larger than their Chinese counterparts at 18,750 tons, and carry up to 20 ballistic missiles.

With China relying on a much smaller fleet of submarines made up of much lighter vessels, deployment of a particularly cutting edge ballistic missile class has the potential to somewhat narrow the capability gap until the more capable Type 096 Class ballistic missile submarine begins to enter service in the early-mid 2030s. Although China has gained parity or superiority over the United States and Russia in a significant and fast growing number of its military capabilities, such as in the capabilities of its most advanced surface combat ships, the People’s Liberation Army has been slower to narrow the gap in the capabilities of its submarine fleet.