China has revealed that its most advanced nuclear-powered submarines were used to test-fire a strategic missile in the Pacific earlier this year, offering a rare glimpse into Beijing’s expanding undersea nuclear capabilities as it seeks to strengthen its military reach and strategic deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.According to a Bloomberg report, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency said that the third generation of its Changzheng-series nuclear submarines had successfully conducted a test launch of a submarine-launched strategic missile.The announcement, accompanied by an image of the July test, marks the first public confirmation that Beijing deployed its latest-generation submarines for the launch.The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) did not disclose the type of submarine or missile used in the test, leaving key details of the launch unclear. Analysts had earlier speculated that the missile was fired from a Type 094 Jin-class ballistic missile submarine, but Beijing’s latest statement points to the possible involvement of a more advanced generation of nuclear submarines.The July launch demonstrated the sea-based component of China’s nuclear triad, which also includes land-based missiles and nuclear-capable aircraft.Submarine-launched ballistic missiles are a crucial part of a country’s nuclear deterrent because they can be fired from vessels operating underwater, making them harder for adversaries to detect and potentially improving the ability to retaliate following a nuclear attack.China had conducted only two publicly known intercontinental ballistic missile tests in the Pacific before the July launch, both involving land-based systems.The latest disclosure highlights the growing role of its submarine fleet in strategic weapons testing, although Beijing has not confirmed whether the missile used in July was nuclear-armed or disclosed its range and technical specifications.Inside China’s growing nuclear submarine fleetChina is rapidly expanding its nuclear-powered submarine fleet, combining new vessel construction with longer-range submarine-launched missiles to strengthen its ability to project military power across the Indo-Pacific.An assessment published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in February 2026 said China launched more nuclear-powered submarines, in both number and combined tonnage, than the United States during 2021–25, although qualitative differences between their fleets remain.The expansion spans two distinct capabilities: ballistic missile submarines, which underpin China’s sea-based nuclear deterrent, and attack submarines designed to target enemy vessels and extend naval operations beyond China’s coastal waters.China’s current ballistic missile submarine force is centred on the Type 094 Jin-class, which carries up to 12 submarine-launched ballistic missiles.The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, in its Chinese Nuclear Weapons, 2026 assessment published on July 8, estimated that China operated six Type 094 submarines, while noting the development of the next-generation Type 096.The IISS, using commercial satellite imagery and other open-source evidence, assessed in February that China had likely launched seventh and eighth Type 094 boats in 2024 and 2025, respectively.A key part of the programme is the development of longer-range submarine-launched ballistic missiles. China has been replacing the JL-2, assessed to have a range of around 7,200 kilometres, with the JL-3, which is designed to extend the reach of its sea-based nuclear force.Beyond its ballistic missile submarines, China is expanding its nuclear-powered attack submarine force. The Type 093B Shang III class is assessed to carry vertical-launch cells for guided missiles, expanding the Chinese navy’s options for attacking surface ships and potentially striking targets at longer ranges.The next-generation Type 095 is associated with the development of more capable nuclear-powered attack submarines, while the Type 096 is expected to succeed the Type 094 as a ballistic missile platform.The expansion is also changing how US naval intelligence assesses the long-term challenge posed by China.Rear Admiral Michael Brookes, commander of the US Office of Naval Intelligence, told the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission in March 2026 that “By 2040, the PLA Navy’s undersea forces may credibly challenge US regional maritime dominance, complicating crisis response, power projection and allied defense.”USNI News reported that Brookes projected that up to half of China’s anticipated 80-boat attack submarine fleet could be nuclear-powered by 2035.
