Julang1

Julang-1 (JL-1) is China’s first-generation submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). It was developed to provide a sea-based nuclear deterrent and to arm China’s early ballistic-missile submarines.

Development and design: Initiated in the 1970s by the China Academy of Launch Technology (CALT) with support from other defense institutes, the JL-1 was designed as a two-stage, liquid-fueled missile intended for submerged launch from Type 092 Xia-class SSBNs. It is widely reported to carry a single nuclear warhead and to have an estimated range of roughly 1,700 to 2,000 kilometers, though exact figures are not publicly confirmed.

Operational history: The JL-1 conducted its first flight test in 1982 from a submerged launch, and it entered service with the Xia-class submarines in the late 1980s. The missile represented China’s early effort to establish a credible sea-based component of its nuclear deterrent and remained in limited service as newer SLBMs were developed.

Significance and later development: The JL-1 laid the groundwork for China’s undersea strategic capabilities and informed subsequent missile programs. It was gradually superseded by newer designs, notably the JL-2, which began deployment on more modern submarine platforms in the following decades. Today the JL-1 is largely considered obsolete in front-line service but is a landmark in the history of China’s ballistic missile program.