What the debut of a new air-based missile means for China’s nuclear strategy

JL-1 air-launched ballistic missiles are featured in the nuclear missile formation during China’s Victory Day military parade, in Beijing on September 3, 2025.

Photo: VCG via Getty Images China’s new air-based nuclear missile will boost the country’s ability to survive a first strike and retaliate, reinforcing confidence in its no-first-use policy, according to a state-linked military magazine.

The Jinglei-1 nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) made its debut at the World War II Victory Day parade in Beijing last September.

It can be carried by the PLA Air Force’s H-6N strategic bombers, completing the People’s Liberation Army’s “nuclear triad” – the ability to deliver nuclear weapons from air, land and sea platforms.

According to an article in Shipborne Weapons this month, the combination of the H-6N and JL-1 ensures survivability for second-strike capability, thanks to the bomber’s mobility.

The bomber fleet can scramble swiftly upon early warning of an attack, dodging destruction on the ground and safeguarding its ability to strike back.

This combination “gives China greater confidence in adhering to its no-first-use nuclear policy, because there’s no worry that they [H-6N plus JL-1] will be completely destroyed, and therefore [it] does not need to conduct a pre-emptive nuclear strike,” the article said.

The magazine is managed by state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation.

China’s no-first-use policy commits it to never striking first with nuclear weapons in any conflict, restricting its arsenal to retaliation against a nuclear attack.

China has also pledged to bolster “strategic deterrence” – widely interpreted as expanding and upgrading its nuclear force – under its latest five-year plan, covering 2026 to 2030.

The JL-1 plays a unique role among China’s strategic assets – one that land- and sea-based platforms cannot match during a crisis, according to the article. “We can imagine this scenario: at the height of an international crisis, policymakers could order an H-6N bomber carrying the JL-1 missile to take off and fly to a designated airspace to await orders, serving as a potent warning and deterrent,” it said. “This is equivalent to directly signalling to an enemy’s satellites and radar: ‘I am prepared for a nuclear counter-attack; think twice.’” The air-launched JL-1 or “Shocking Thunder-1” reportedly has a range of up to 8,000km (4,970 miles), while an H-6N bomber has a combat range of up to 4,000km if supported

原文链接: 南华早报