BEIJING - China's new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is capable of reaching more targets within the United States. The new SLBM is the Ju Lang-3 (JL-3). This missile replaces the older JL-2 on China's fleet of ballistic missile submarines.
The JL-3 could enable Chinese submarines to strike targets in the United States from protected positions within the South China Sea. The JL-3 has sufficient range to reach Alaska and Hawaii. To reach the lower 48 states, Chinese ballistic missile submarines would need to modify their patrol areas. These submarines would need to more into the Yellow Sea or Western Pacific to hit a greater number of targets in the continental United States.
China has six Type 094 submarines equipped with 12 missile launchers. The main Chinese submarine base is on Hainan Island.