In recent years, China has increased its production of nuclear warheads and modernized its missile arsenal, matching the United States in an effort to dominate the strategic Asia-Pacific region. With the possibility of a large-scale conflict breaking out, many have asked, what is the range of China’s nuclear-capable missiles?
How many nuclear missiles does China have?
According to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Studies Institute (SIPRI) on global nuclear capabilities, currently China has 500 nuclear warheads, double the number estimated in 2020. Additionally, for the first time, China is believed to have deployed two dozen of these warheads on high operational alert, being one threat to US allies in the regionsuch as the Philippines and Japan, as well as for the US military bases themselves.
On the other hand, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) maintains a database of 16 Chinese missiles that vary from short to long range and from conventional to nuclear.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) is the element of the Chinese armed forces responsible for supervising both nuclear and conventional missiles, including hypersonic ones. Although China’s nuclear arsenal is more limited than those of Washington and Moscow, Beijing now has a nuclear triadwhich includes submarines, strategic bombers, and land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
“China is developing new ICBMs that will significantly enhance its nuclear-capable missile forces and require increased production of nuclear warheads.“The Pentagon noted last year in its annual report on China’s military posture, highlighting missiles with multiple warheads capable of hitting different targets.
The range of Chinese missiles
First of all, the Hong Niao-3 (Red Bird-3) can be launched from land, surface ships and submarines, and has a range of up to 1,864 miles, representing a threat to US and allied forces stationed in Japan and the Philippines.
He Dongfeng 4a solid-fuel land-based missile with a range of 4,490 to 5,500 kilometers, can hit US military bases in Hawaii and Guam if fired from China’s east coast. Although it was scheduled to cease operations in 2005, some remain deployed in Henan province, according to CSIS.
He Dong Feng 31, mobile by road, has a range of 6,900 to 11,700 kilometers, although it may depend on the variant. Located on the east coast of China, could reach most of the United States territory.
He Ju Lang 2 (Giant Wave), a submarine-launched missile, has a range of 7,900 to 9,900 kilometers and It can threaten Hawaii, Alaska and the western United States if launched from the mid-Pacific.
Finally, the DF-41China’s new ICBM, still under development, is expected to have a range of 12,000 to 15,000 kilometers, capable of reaching any part of the United States if launched from the east coast of China. Furthermore, it is not only mobile by road, but it would be equipped with multiple independent reentry warheadscapable of achieving several objectives simultaneously.
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Source: Newsweek
