| Country: |
People's Republic of China |
| Alternate Name: |
JL-1 |
| Class: |
SLBM |
| Basing: |
Submarine-launched |
| Length: |
10.70 m |
| Diameter: |
1.40 m |
| Launch Weight: |
14700 kg |
| Payload: |
Single warhead, 600 kg |
| Warhead: |
Nuclear 250 or 500 kT |
| Propulsion: |
2-stage solid |
| Range: |
2150 km |
| Status: |
Operational |
| In Service: |
1987 |
Details
The CSS-N-3 is an medium-range, submarine-launched, solid propellant ballistic missile. The CSS-N-3 was designed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as its first submarine-launched ballistic missile. It was developed for use on the ‘Xia’ class nuclear submarine, and is believed to have been based upon technology taken from the CSS-2. In order to develop an effective submarine-based nuclear force, the development of a solid propellant engine was considered a crucial element in the development of the CSS-N-3. As a result, the missile did not finish development until the mid-1980’s. The CSS-N-3 was used as the basis for the CSS-5 land-based missile.
The CSS-N-3 is designed to secure the PRC’s nuclear missile force against attack. The deployment of the missile on a submarine significantly increases the survivability of the missiles onboard, as even today finding a missile submarine prior to launch is nearly impossible unless planned many months in advance. In addition, the mobility of a submarine allows the missiles to be launched from locations close to the target. This dramatically increases the effective missile range of the PRC ballistic missile force and places targets on the East Coast of the United States within the PRC’s strike capacity. However, unlike the CSS-NX-5 SLBM under development, the CSS-N-3 is required to leave PRC waters to conduct a strike, drawing it away from the protection of PRC military forces.
The PRC maintains that it will not be the first country to deploy nuclear weapons in a war, but it does not hesitate to threaten nuclear confrontation. During a 1996 confrontation regarding PRC missile tests off the coast of the island of Taiwan, a senior Communist Chinese official (and frequent policy spokesman), told a US official not to interfere with relations between the PRC and Taiwan because Americans “care more about Los Angeles than they do Tai Pei.” This demonstrates, at the very least, a willingness on the part of the PRC to use nuclear weapons to accomplish political ends. A similar situation likely exists with respect to Russia and India.
The CSS-N-3 has a range of 2,150 km (1,336 miles) with an accuracy of 700 m CEP obtained from an inertial guidance system. It delivers a payload of a single warhead that weighs up to 600 kg, which is believed to carry a 250 or 500 kT yield nuclear device. As the CSS-5 is essentially a modified CSS-N-3, it is likely that the CSS-N-3 can be equipped with the same high explosive, EMP, submunition and chemical warheads. The CSS-N-3 has a launch weight of 14,700 kg, a length of 10.7 m and a width of 1.4 m. It uses a two-stage solid propellant engine.
The CSS-N-3 entered development in 1967, though progress was slow due to difficulties mastering solid propellant technologies. It was first seen in a Beijing military parade in October 1984, with three test launches occurring in 1985. A multiple (probably three) missile test launch occurred in August 2001, showing that the PRC could successfully launch simultaneous strikes from one submarine. The CSS-N-3 entered operation in 1987 onboard a ‘Xia’ class submarine, with the first operational test launch in 1988. It is known that at least two ‘Xia’ class submarines were built, only one of which is confirmed to remain. There are believed to be 15 to 20 CSS-N-3 missiles remaining, most of which are believed operational on the remaining ‘Xia’ class submarine. The ‘Xia’ class submarine will be replaced by the Type 94 submarine under construction, which will be equipped with the JL-2 intercontinental-range SLBM.(1)
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 42 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2005), 64-65.
