China’s New Nuclear Submarine Can Hit US Mainland

By Staff, Agencies 

A new report stressed that China’s military has armed its newly commissioned nuclear-powered submarine with the country's most powerful submarine-launched ballistic missile [SLBM], which can reach the US mainland.

The report, published on Sunday by the South China Morning Post, said the Type 094A, or Jin-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine [SSBN], was presented last Friday as part of the celebration to mark the 72nd anniversary of Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy.

The new submarine is capable of firing the JL-3, or Julang [Big Wave] SLBM with a range over 10,000 km [6,200 miles], said a source close to the navy, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.

The unnamed source added, “Before the upgrade, the submarine was armed with the inferior JL-2 that could only hit the northeast United States, but now it’s able to cover the whole American continent.”

The JL-3 is able to deliver the same multiple warheads, including nuclear warheads like the JL-2 does, the source added without giving more details.