How Nuclear Missile, Submarine and Stealth Bomber Capabilities Match Up | U.S. vs. China
The Wall Street Journal recently published a video that compares the nuclear capabilities of the United States and China on land, at sea and in the air. The video shows how China has been rapidly expanding its nuclear force in the past few decades, while the U.S. has maintained its edge in terms of quantity and quality. Here are some of the main points from the video and some additional information from other sources.
U.S. vs. China on land: Minuteman III vs. DF-41 ICBMs
The U.S. has about 400 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) deployed in silos across the country, each capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads. The mainstay of the U.S. land-based nuclear force is the Minuteman III, which has a range of over 10,000 kilometers and can reach any target in China within 30 minutes. The Minuteman III is expected to remain in service until the 2030s, when it will be replaced by the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), a new ICBM that will have improved accuracy, reliability and security.
China, on the other hand, has about 100 ICBMs, most of which are road-mobile and can be hidden and moved around the vast Chinese territory. China’s newest and most advanced ICBM is the DF-41, which has a range of over 12,000 kilometers and can carry up to 10 nuclear warheads. The DF-41 is also capable of maneuvering in flight to evade missile defenses. China is also developing a new silo-based ICBM, the DF-31AG, which has a range of over 11,000 kilometers and can carry multiple warheads.
U.S. vs. China at sea: Ohio-class vs. Jin-class submarines
The U.S. has 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), each carrying 20 Trident II D5 missiles, which can each carry up to eight nuclear warheads. The Ohio-class SSBNs are the most survivable and reliable part of the U.S. nuclear triad, as they can operate stealthily in the vast oceans and launch their missiles from anywhere in the world. The Ohio-class SSBNs are expected to serve until the 2040s, when they will be replaced by the Columbia-class SSBNs, which will have 16 missiles each and enhanced stealth and endurance.
China has six Jin-class SSBNs, each carrying 12 JL-2 missiles, which can each carry one or two nuclear warheads. The Jin-class SSBNs are the first operational Chinese submarines that can launch nuclear missiles from the sea, giving China a second-strike capability in case of a nuclear attack. The JL-2 missiles have a range of about 7,000 kilometers, which means they can only target parts of the U.S. if they are deployed in the Pacific. China is also developing a new SSBN, the Type 096, which will carry 24 JL-3 missiles, which will have a range of over 10,000 kilometers and can carry multiple warheads.
U.S. vs. China in the air: B-21 vs. H-20 stealth bombers
The U.S. has about 150 bombers that can deliver nuclear weapons, including the B-52H, the B-1B and the B-2A. The B-52H is the oldest and most numerous of the U.S. bombers, but it is also the most vulnerable to air defenses, as it is not stealthy and has a limited range. The B-1B is a supersonic bomber that can carry conventional weapons, but not nuclear ones, due to treaty limitations. The B-2A is a stealth bomber that can penetrate enemy airspace and deliver nuclear or conventional weapons, but it is very expensive and requires frequent maintenance. The U.S. is developing a new stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider, which will be able to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons and have a longer range and better survivability than the B-2A.
China has about 20 bombers that can deliver nuclear weapons, all of which are variants of the H-6, a copy of the Soviet Tu-16. The H-6 is a subsonic bomber that can carry nuclear or conventional cruise missiles, but it is also outdated and vulnerable to air defenses. China is developing its first long-range stealth bomber, the H-20, which will have a range of over 10,000 kilometers and be able to carry nuclear or conventional weapons. The H-20 is expected to enter service in the mid-2020s and pose a serious challenge to the U.S. air superiority in the region.
Takeaways
The video concludes that the U.S. still has a clear advantage over China in terms of nuclear capabilities, but China is catching up fast and may soon achieve parity or even surpass the U.S. in some areas. The video also warns that the growing nuclear competition between the two superpowers could increase the risk of miscalculation, escalation and conflict, and calls for more dialogue and cooperation to reduce the nuclear threat.
