Andres Martinez Casares / EPA
China Air Force stealthy bomber parades at the parade of September 3, 2025
For the first time, China exhibited all of its nuclear triad at the Great Military Parade held this Wednesday in Beijing, showing to be able to projection of power by land, sea and air. Only the United States, Russia and India currently have this capacity.
The event presented an arsenal of nuclear missiles launched by Earth, Sea and Aira demonstration that arises shortly after the United States warned the “quick nuclear expansion“Chinese.
The parade, which crossed AE signaled the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Japan in World War II, was attended by the DF-61 – considered the latest terrestrial intercontinental ballistic missile in the country – and DF-31BJa modernized version of previous ICBM models.
Little is still known About these systems, including their operating state. Even if they are still developing, China already has a considerable Arsenal of ICBM Terrestres.
In the military parade also paraded the JL-3, a ballistic missile intercontinental launched from submarines, and the JL-1, a new long -range air missile, in addition to other nuclear weapons, such as the Gigantic DF-5Creleased from silos.
The Chinese state press stressed that it was the first time Beijing publicly presented its Complete nuclear triad – Designation that covers the nuclear attack vectors launched from land, sea and air.
Only the United States, Russia and India They currently have this capacity.
To Ankit Pandasenior investigator of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace nuclear policy program, the introduction of the JL-1 missile means that the Popular Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) officially began to deter the determination nuclear capacity.
“So far, PLAF has not had a recognized nuclear role, although there are already signs that it would assume this function,” Panda told the Business Insider.
By 2020, Plaaf began operating the H-6n, your first bomber nuclear capable of Flight refuelingwhich serves as a platform for the air arm of the Chinese nuclear triad. Beijing is still developing The Furtivo Bombard H-20.
A report by the US Department of Defense published in 2024 states that the development of the H-20 demonstrates the Chinese intention to “expand your ability to projection of power”.
Still, for Panda, the symbolic importance of showing the triad complete is “debatable”. “There is no sacred reason for nuclear launch systems distributed by land, sea and air to be essential for deterrent,” he said, “but This has been a sign of prestige since the US and the Soviet Union have adopted similar postures during the Cold War. ”
A growing arsenal
According to the annual Pentagon report, China had more than 2024 in 2024 600 operational nuclear warheads – a much lower number At 4,300 from Russia and 3,700 from the US, according to the Federation of American Scientists. Still, the report warns of a rapid nuclear expansion.
By 2030, China should exceed 1,000 warheads operational, many of them at higher levels of readiness. Modernization is expected to continue by 2035, the year Beijing wants to have their armed forces “basically modernized.”
It is, according to Washington, An important milestone for President Xi Jinping, who aims reach by 2049 a “world class” armyin parity with the main powers.
China has Hundreds of ICBMall with the capacity to reach the US continental territory. DF-41, predecessor of DF-61, has an estimated range more than 12 thousand kilometers and can carry multiple warheads. Beijing also has numerous ballistic missiles of theater and cruise missiles.
JL-3, presented at this Wednesday’s parade, is the third generation of missiles ballistic launched from Chinese submarines. Like its predecessor, JL-2, it can be Transported by Jin class submarinesbeing in development a new generation of nuclear submarines launched ballistic missiles.
As for H-6N, it is distinguished from other Chinese bombers by having the modified fuselage, allowing it transport an released from the air. According to the Pentagon, it can be used in “Nuclear Attacks on Precision Against targets in Indo-Pacific Theater”.
Chinese media described the weapons presented in the parade as the Beijing’s “Strategic Trunfo” to safeguard sovereignty and national dignity.
China’s main rival, the United States, have a robust nuclear triad composed of ICBM Minuteman III – which will be replaced by the Sentinel program – by bombardeiros B-52 Stratofortress e B-2 Spirit, which will soon join the B-21 Raider, and by Ohio class submarines Equipped with Trident II D5 missiles, which will give way to the new Columbia class.
This triad guarantees Washington a diverse, flexible and resistant arsenal that supports its reference nuclear power status – at least for now.
