Julang2

Julang-2, also known as JL-2, is a Chinese submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) developed for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. It is the second generation SLBM for China and is designed for deployment on the Jin-class (Type 094) ballistic missile submarines. Development began in the 1990s, with flight tests in the 2000s and deployment in the 2010s. The JL-2 is a solid-fuel, multi-stage missile believed to be capable of carrying multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs).

Estimated range for the JL-2 is about 7,000 to 8,000 kilometers, giving China a sea-based strategic deterrent that can reach a wide portion of the globe depending on patrol locations and launch opportunities. The missile is designed to be fired from submerged submarines and forms the core of the Type 094 ballistic missile submarine patrols.

Operationally, the JL-2 provides China with a sea-based component of its nuclear triad and complements the Jin-class submarines as a platform for long-range deterrence patrols. The missile has undergone modernization efforts as part of broader PLAN improvements to submarine-launched weapons, with future developments under consideration to extend range, payload, and capability beyond current configurations.