JL-3

The JL-3 (Chinese: 巨浪-3; pinyin: Jù Làng Sān; lit. 'Giant Wave 3'; NATO reporting name: CSS-NX-20^[2]) is a Chinese third-generation intercontinental-range submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). It arms the Type 094 submarine,^[3] and is expected to arm the future Type 096.^[2]

Julang-3 (JL-3)
Type	SLBM
Place of origin	People's Republic of China
Service history
In service	2022
Used by	People's Liberation Army Navy
Specifications
Warhead	MIRV
Propellant	Solid-fuel rocket
Operational range	>5,400 nmi (10,000 km)[1]
Guidance system	Astro-inertial with Beidou
Launch platform	Type 094 submarine

History

The first test flight occurred on 24 November 2018 in the Bohai Sea; it was likely a test of the launch tube's cold-launch ejection system.^[4] According to anonymous Chinese sources, the Type 032 submarine made the first three test launches, with a Type 094 making the fourth in December 2019.^[5]

In 2020, anonymous Chinese sources reported that development of the JL-3 and Type 096 had been decoupled to speed up missile development, and that it would take at least five years to integrate the missile with the submarine.^[5]

In November 2022, the United States Navy reported that the Type 094 was rearmed with the JL-3.^[3]

Description

The JL-3 is reported as a solid-fueled missile with ranges of over 9,000 km (5,600 mi)^[4] or 10,000 km (6,200 mi).^[1]

The Center for Strategic and International Studies reports the likely payload to be three MIRV nuclear warheads.^[6]