China’s JL-1 missile beats US rivals, but will launch platform hold it back?
The air-launched missile completes China’s nuclear triad and could pose a threat to Alaska, but it has limitations, defence magazine says
China’s Jinglei-1 (JL-1) missile could pose a nuclear threat to Alaska – and potentially the rest of the United States – though it still has significant limitations, according to a Chinese military magazine.
It is the world’s only long-range hypersonic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads, putting China ahead of the United States and Russia in this emerging weapons category, according to an analysis in this month’s issue of Ordnance Industry Science Technology magazine.
The JL-1, whose name means “Shocking Thunder-1”, reportedly has a range of up to 8,000km (4,971 miles), while an H-6N bomber has a combat range of up to 4,000km if supported by aerial refuelling.
“Since Alaska is the core base of the US national missile defence system, the JL-1 would have no real combat purpose if it cannot pose a credible threat to it,” the article said.