Exactly why am I to believe the ChiComs’ missile has this range? Where did the test flight begin and end? Where are the logs from their competitors? Who exactly claimed this, and what are their credentials?
1. The Chinese intend to sell this weapon for export. This is so far the predicted range.
2. It’s not just the US intel community claiming this - India is keeping a *very* close eye on Chinese SLBM developments.
3. The 24 Nov test appears to have been a test of the cold-launch-ejection system for both the new missile and the sub.
4. This JL-3 appears to be a navalized version of their already existing DF-41 land based ballistic missile, just as their existing JL-2 was a navalized version of their DF-31.
5. The DF-41, unfortunately, *does* have a proven range of *at least* 9000km and it is thought to be potentially capable of going at most 15,000km, depending on warhead configuration. It has been flight tested repeatedly and successfully with a MIRV capability.