Our Navy Successfully Organizes Submarine-Launched Strategic Missile Test: Experts Say Range Reaches Intercontinental, Our Country's "Trinity" Upgraded Again!

[Global Times - Global Network Report by reporter Guo Yuandan] At 1:00 PM on July 6, Xinhua News Agency announced that the Chinese Navy successfully organized a test launch of a submarine-launched strategic missile, just 59 minutes after the missile launch. Experts interviewed by the Global Times generally believe that the launch process was smooth, and the results were satisfactory, achieving all expected goals.

Xinhua reported that at 12:01 PM on July 6, 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.

"The brief official announcement contains a wealth of information that deserves in-depth interpretation," said military expert Zhang Junsha in an interview with the Global Times. He inferred from the official announcement that the submarine-launched strategic missile launched this time should be the "Julang" submarine-launched strategic missile that appeared in a previous military parade, and it is highly likely that its range exceeds 8,000 kilometers, qualifying it as an intercontinental ballistic missile.

This also means that after a two-year interval, 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 AM, the Rocket Force of the People's Liberation Army 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 great significance. "In the 'trinity' 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 are suppressed, strategically deployed nuclear submarines in deep waters 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 stated that the successful launch of this submarine-launched strategic missile resonates with the land-based intercontinental ballistic missile test conducted by China in the South Pacific two years ago. From the test launch of new land-based intercontinental missiles to the test launch of new submarine-launched strategic missiles, the two types of strategic strike capabilities are interconnected and complementary, significantly enhancing the overall deterrent effectiveness of China's "trinity" 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 enemy 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 strong warhead destructive power.

This test launch has attracted significant attention from the outside world, with the type of strategic nuclear submarine executing the mission being a focal point. "Strategic nuclear submarines specifically refer to nuclear-powered submarines equipped with submarine-launched intercontinental missiles, undertaking strategic deterrence and nuclear retaliation missions. The types of our military currently in service that have been publicly reported include the Type 092, Type 094, Type 094 improved version, and newer iterations," 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 August 1, 2025, a CCTV official promotional video 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 country's equipment disclosure practices, the officially disclosed equipment is not necessarily the most advanced model in service, usually indicating that the next generation of equipment has completed 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 a newer advanced strategic nuclear submarine," Zhang Junsha stated.

Regarding the type of submarine-launched intercontinental missile tested this time, Song Zhongping assesses the likelihood of the Julang-3 missile being extremely high. The Julang-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 a near-complete trajectory test 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 Julang-3 has become the backbone of the sea-based nuclear deterrent system." Zhang Junsha analyzed that 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 the 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 for conducting strategic missile training, ensuring that the entire test launch process is safe and controllable, while also saving the cumbersome follow-up work of recovering live warheads.

Xinhua emphasized that this missile test launch is a routine arrangement for China's annual military training, and relevant countries have been informed in advance, complying with international law and international norms, and not targeting any specific country or objective.

Nevertheless, some countries are still making "noise." According to the Japan Economic News, China informed Japan about this launch. However, the Japanese government "strongly urged Beijing to reconsider this test launch to avoid threats to Japan's security, such as missiles flying over Japanese territory. At the same time, the Japanese government also expressed serious concerns to China regarding the increasing military activities of China."

In response, Zhang Junsha analyzed, "This test launch fully demonstrates our nuclear strategy of self-defense, with high transparency and appropriate restraint. China proactively informed 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 unfounded comments."

This expert emphasized that this submarine-launched missile test launch is of far-reaching significance. On one hand, it comprehensively tested the reliability and accuracy of intercontinental missiles, intuitively demonstrating the PLA's mature strategic combat capabilities, continuously enhancing our strategic deterrent and nuclear retaliation strength, and sending a clear message to the world: China has the capability to defend 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.

At the regular press conference held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 6, spokesperson Mao Ning stated that this is a routine military training activity, not targeting any specific country or objective, and has been informed to relevant countries in advance, complying with international law and international norms, with all launch activities maintaining safety standards and professional operations, "hoping that relevant countries do not over-interpret."