The JL-3 (Chinese: 巨浪-3; pinyin: Jù Làng Sān; lit. 'Giant Wave 3'; NATO reporting name: CSS-NX-20) is a Chinese third-generation intercontinental-range submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). It arms the Type 094 submarine, and is expected to arm the future Type 096.
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. 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.
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.
In November 2022, the United States Navy reported that the Type 094 was rearmed with the JL-3.
Description
The JL-3 is reported as a solid-fueled missile with ranges of over 9,000 km (5,600 mi) or 10,000 km (6,200 mi).
The Center for Strategic and International Studies reports the likely payload to be three MIRV nuclear warheads.
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