JL-1 (air-launched ballistic missile)

This article is about Jīng Léi-1 (JL-1), the air-launched ballistic missile. For JL-1 (Jù Làng-1), submarine-launched ballistic missile, see JL-1.

The JL-1 (Chinese: 惊雷-1; pinyin: Jīng Léi-Yī; lit. 'thunderclap-1'[1]) is a Chinese nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM);[2] designed to be carried by the People's Liberation Army Air Force's Xi'an H-6N strategic bombers and launched as a standoff weapon, forming part of China's nuclear triad.[3][4][5][6]

The JL-1 missile was first unveiled at the 2025 China Victory Day Parade. Analysts believed the JL-1 is an air-launched missile variant of the DF-21 medium-range ballistic missile, previously known as the KF-21 or by its NATO designation: CH-AS-X-13.[7][8] The KF-21 was reportedly to serve a nuclear strike or anti-ship role, and is a two-stage missile with a range of 3,000 km (1,900 mi).[9][10] It was in development by 2018,[10] and the United States projected it would be ready for deployment by 2025.[11] However, during its official reveal, the missile was reported to have a range of 8,000 km (5,000 mi), which is significantly longer than both DF-21 and DF-26, making it an intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile's longer range may have benefited from the speed of its launch aircraft, thus having a much greater range than its ground-launched counterparts.[7]

Weight reduction may have been achieved by using composite materials.[11] The War Zone reported two possible warhead configurations; a DF-21D-style "double-cone" tip, and a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) similar to the DF-ZF on the DF-17 missile.[9]

References

  1. ^ "惊雷-1，巨浪-3首次亮相 军事专家： 我国成为为数不多拥有三位一体战略核力量的国家". Sina News. 3 September 2025.
  2. ^ Chan, Ryan (3 September 2025). "China Unveils New Nuclear Missiles for 'Global' Reach". Newsweek.
  3. ^ Yeo, Mike (3 September 2025). "China showcases nuclear triad, new missiles and lasers at military parade". Breaking Defense.
  4. ^ Rahaman Sarkar, Alisha (3 September 2025). "All the new weapons unveiled by China at Xi Jinping's massive military parade". The Independent.
  5. ^ Epstein, Jake (3 September 2025). "China just showed the world its full nuclear triad for the first time, rolling it through Beijing". Business Insider.
  6. ^ Kajal, Kapil (3 September 2025). "From nuclear triad to hypersonics: What China unveiled in largest military parade ever". Interesting Engineering.
  7. ^ a b Trevithick, Joseph (4 September 2025). "China's JL-1 Air Launched Ballistic Missile's Official Debut Is A Big Deal". The War Zone.
  8. ^ Kristensen, Hans; Johns, Eliana; Korda, Matt; Knight-Boyle, Mackenzie (4 September 2025). "Nuclear Weapons At China's 2025 Victory Day Parade". Federation of American Scientists.
  9. ^ a b Newdick, Thomas (1 May 2024). "China's H-6K Bomber Seen Firing Air-Launched Ballistic Missile For First Time". The War Zone.
  10. ^ a b Nouwen, Veerle; Wright, Timothy; Graham, Euan; Herzinger, Blake (January 2024). Long-range Strike Capabilities in the Asia-Pacific: Implications for Regional Stability (Report). The International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 12.
  11. ^ a b Panda, Ankit (10 April 2018). "Revealed: China's Nuclear-Capable Air-Launched Ballistic Missile". The Diplomat.


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