China's "Trinity" Nuclear Power Upgraded Again! The Navy Successfully Conducts Submarine-Launched Strategic Missile Test with Intercontinental Range

[Global Times Report, Reporter Guo Yuandan] At 13:00 on July 6, Xinhua News Agency released a message: At 12:01 that day, a strategic nuclear submarine of the People's Liberation Army Navy successfully launched a submarine-launched strategic missile carrying a training simulation warhead into the relevant high seas of the Pacific Ocean, accurately landing in the designated sea area. This was only 59 minutes after the missile launch. Experts interviewed by the Global Times on the 6th generally believe that the launch process was smooth and the result was satisfactory, achieving all expected goals. "The brief official announcement contains a huge amount of information and is worth in-depth interpretation," said military expert Zhang Junsha in an interview with the Global Times. According to the official announcement, it is inferred that the submarine-launched strategic missile launched this time should be the "Giant Wave" submarine-launched strategic missile that appeared in previous military parades, and its range is likely to exceed 8,000 kilometers, qualifying it as an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Significantly enhancing the overall deterrent effectiveness of China's "triad" strategic nuclear forces

This also means that less than two years later, the PLA has once again conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile test launch in the high seas of the Pacific Ocean. On September 25, 2024, at 8:44, the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile carrying a training simulation warhead into the relevant high seas of the Pacific Ocean, accurately landing in the designated sea area.

Zhang Junsha believes that this test launch is of profound significance. "In the 'triad' nuclear force system, strategic nuclear submarines are internationally recognized as the most stable and reliable platform for second nuclear retaliation. Nuclear submarines can conduct long-term underwater maneuvering patrols, making their activity trajectories difficult to detect and lock onto, with extremely strong battlefield survivability. Even if land-based and air-based nuclear platforms on the home front are suppressed, strategically deployed nuclear submarines in the deep sea still possess complete nuclear retaliation capabilities." Zhang Junsha stated that this submarine-launched strategic missile test launch fully verified the entire operational chain of underwater maneuvering, underwater launching, and long-range guidance, fully demonstrating that the PLA's sea-based nuclear forces can implement stable and reliable strategic retaliation at any point in the vast high seas of the Pacific.

Military expert Song Zhongping shares the same view. He told the Global Times that the successful launch of this submarine-launched strategic missile resonates with the land-based intercontinental ballistic missile test launch conducted by China in the South Pacific two years ago. From the test launch of the new land-based intercontinental missile to the test launch of the new submarine-launched strategic missile, the two types of strategic strike capabilities are interconnected and complementary, significantly enhancing the overall deterrent effectiveness of China's "triad" strategic nuclear forces.

The official announcement shows that the launch platform was a strategic nuclear submarine equipped with submarine-launched strategic missiles. Zhang Junsha believes that strategic missiles have two core attributes: from a combat positioning perspective, this type of missile undertakes strategic strike missions, targeting not frontline field forces but rather the enemy's command centers, core military facilities, and key facilities with strategic value such as energy and economy, which can create a comprehensive strategic deterrent; from a range standard perspective, strategic missiles generally refer to intercontinental ballistic missiles, with ranges covering thousands to tens of thousands of kilometers, far exceeding conventional missiles, and with extremely powerful warhead destructive capabilities.

"Giant Wave-3" has become the backbone of the sea-based nuclear deterrent system

The model of the strategic nuclear submarine that conducted this test launch and mission has attracted significant attention. "Strategic nuclear submarines specifically refer to nuclear-powered submarines equipped with submarine-launched intercontinental missiles, undertaking strategic deterrence and nuclear retaliation missions. The currently active models in our military that have been publicly reported include the Type 092, Type 094, Type 094 improved version, and updated models," Zhang Junsha introduced.

In April 2018, the Central Military Commission held a naval parade in the South China Sea, and public information shows that among the reviewed vessels were two Type 094A strategic nuclear submarines. On April 23, 2021, three types of main battle ships of the Navy were concentrated and commissioned at a military port in Sanya, Hainan, including the latest strategic nuclear submarine, the Changzheng 18. On the eve of the 2025 "August 1" Army Day, a promotional video from CCTV publicly displayed images of the new submarine's long-range mission, which the outside world generally assessed to be the Type 094 strategic nuclear submarine.

"According to our equipment disclosure practices, the officially disclosed equipment is not necessarily the most advanced active model, which usually indicates that an updated generation of equipment has completed its deployment. Therefore, the submarine used for this test launch could be a Type 094 or its improved version, and it cannot be ruled out that it is an updated advanced strategic nuclear submarine," Zhang Junsha stated.

Regarding the model of the submarine-launched intercontinental missile for this test launch, Song Zhongping assesses that the possibility of the "Giant Wave-3" missile is extremely high. The "Giant Wave-3" submarine-launched intercontinental missile was officially unveiled during the 2025 Victory Day parade commemorating the end of the War of Resistance Against Japan. He believes that this type of missile has already completed multiple tests, including high and low trajectory tests, and urgently needs to conduct near-complete trajectory tests to comprehensively verify the ballistic performance and combat reliability of the entire weapon system.

"As China's independently developed third-generation submarine-launched intercontinental missile, the 'Giant Wave-3' has become the backbone of the sea-based nuclear deterrent system," Zhang Junsha told the Global Times. This type of intercontinental missile has a range of over 10,000 kilometers, covering the South Pacific to the eastern Pacific Ocean, with extremely strong strategic deterrent capabilities.

It is worth noting that both China's land-based intercontinental missile test launch in September 2024 and this sea-based submarine-launched missile test launch used training simulation warheads. Experts explain that this is a common practice among nuclear-armed countries conducting strategic missile training, which ensures that the entire test launch process is safe and controllable, while also saving the cumbersome follow-up work of recovering live warheads.

Prior notification was given to relevant countries, and it does not target any specific country or objective

Xinhua News Agency emphasized that this missile test launch is a routine arrangement for China's annual military training, and prior notification was given to relevant countries, in accordance with international law and international practices, and it does not target any specific country or objective.

Nevertheless, some countries are still making "noise." According to Japan's Kyodo News, China notified Japan of this launch, but the Japanese government "strongly urged Beijing to reconsider this test launch to avoid the missile flying over Japan's airspace and posing a threat to Japan's security, while also expressing serious concerns to China about its increasingly active military activities."

In response, Zhang Junsha stated that this test launch fully demonstrates China's self-defense nuclear strategy, with high transparency and appropriate restraint. China proactively notified relevant countries in advance, and the training activities do not target any third party, with the core purpose being to defend national sovereignty and security and maintain regional peace and stability. Individual countries should not make unnecessary comments.

Zhang Junsha emphasized that this submarine-launched missile test launch is of profound significance. On one hand, it comprehensively tested the reliability and accuracy of China's intercontinental missiles, visually demonstrating the PLA's mature strategic combat capabilities, continuously enhancing our strategic deterrent and nuclear retaliation strength. On the other hand, this launch sends a clear signal to the world: China has the capability to defend its national sovereignty and security, has the confidence to maintain regional peace and stability, and possesses sufficient strategic reserves to calmly respond to various potential security threats.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated at a regular press conference on the 6th that this is a routine military training activity that does not target any specific country or objective, and prior notification has been given to relevant countries, in accordance with international law and international practices. "The launch activities have always maintained safety, standardization, and professional operation, and we hope that relevant countries do not over-interpret this."