The imposing parade held on September 3 in Beijing marked not only the high point of the Victory Day celebrations, where China commemorates the Japanese surrender and the end of the Second World War, but also constituted a display of the growing capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) across all domains and military capacities. At the same time, it has been noted that this was the first occasion in which the Asian Giant publicly exhibited to the world the components that make up its nuclear triad, based on the use of ballistic missiles of different ranges and types, which can be deployed from land, sea, and air, delivering a clear message of deterrence.
In the extensive debate over the development and potential employment of nuclear weaponry, one thing must be kept in mind: its production is of no use if there are no aerial, land, and naval platforms and capabilities for its use and deployment, in order to provide a clear nuclear deterrence.
Like other Western powers, the People’s Republic of China brings together its deterrence capabilities through the branches of the People’s Liberation Army, which possess the platforms for the launch of ballistic missiles, namely: the Air Force, the Navy, and the PLA Rocket Force, each dedicated to its specific domain.
Thanks to the parade held this past September 3, the PLA displayed the missiles that make up this nuclear triad and that are deployed from land silos, mobile launchers, strategic bombers, and nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. Below, we provide a brief list of what was observed in Beijing days ago.
Air-Launched Ballistic Missile (ALBM) JL-1
The first element of the Chinese nuclear triad to make its appearance during the Victory Day parade was the JL-1 “Jīng Léi-Yī” (which should not be confused with the JL-1 or Jù Làng-1 submarine-launched missile), being an air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM).
According to Chinese sources, its launch platform is the H-6N strategic bomber in service with the PLA Air Force, following a trend increasingly present in the great powers of converting this class of aircraft into means of launching cruise and ballistic missiles. Nevertheless, no further characteristics or capabilities of this missile have been specified through China’s official and semi-official media.
Submarine-Launched Missile JL-3
Following the passage in front of the reviewing stand of the JL-1, the JL-3 submarine-launched missile made its appearance, employed as the main nuclear armament of the PLA Navy’s Type 094 nuclear-powered submarines, as well as, looking toward the future, its still-developing successor, the Type 096 (Tang Class in NATO’s designation).
Based on the reports known to date, this solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile has an approximate range of 9,000 kilometers and is capable of carrying MIRV-type warheads. Its first recorded launch took place years ago, when three test launches were detected in 2018 through the Type 032 test submarine, employed by the force as an experimental platform for the evaluation and testing of new capabilities.
Land-Launched Missiles DF-31BJ and DF-61
Next, the mobile launch platforms for ballistic missiles employed by the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force made their appearance, carrying the DF-31BJ and the new DF-61.
The presence of these two missiles mounted on 8×8 wheel-drive TELs (Transporter Erector Launcher) demonstrates, in the first place, the refinement to which the Chinese nuclear triad has been subjected. It is presumed that the DF-31BJ is an improved version of the DF-31AG, which was presented in a previous military parade in 2017.
For its part, the major novelty lay in the official presentation of the new DF-61, which could be an improved version of the DF-41 or its successor, with a significant increase in its range, which, according to Western estimates, would be around 15,000 kilometers and with the capacity to carry a greater number of MIRV-type warheads, up to fourteen, compared with the ten of its predecessor.
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile DF-5C
Closing the land and air parade, the intercontinental ballistic missile DF-5C, the most modern version of this land-silo-launched missile, made its presentation. It is possibly the most advanced version of this second-generation missile, two-staged, originally developed by China during the 1960s and introduced into service at the beginning of the 1980s.
Liquid-fueled, Chinese sources have indicated its capacity to reach any point on the globe, although without specifying its range, which, following the evolution and refinement of its design and capabilities, could be found between 13,000 and 16,000 kilometers, or even greater.
*Photo credits to whom it may concern
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