In 1956, the PRC began its own nuclear program, and on October 16, 1964, it conducted the first successful tests of a real charge. After that, the Chinese army began building its own strategic nuclear forces and eventually managed to create a full-fledged nuclear triad. Now the PRC's strategic nuclear forces have all three components, the creation of which took a long time.
The first steps
China's nuclear program was launched in 1956 by decision of the CPC Central Committee. In the first few months after its adoption, the necessary state bodies and special-purpose enterprises were formed. They were to conduct research and build promising weapons.
However, the lack of experience and competencies forced Beijing to turn to Moscow for help. In the second half of the fifties, about 10 thousand Soviet specialists visited China and provided one or another assistance. In addition, a comparable number of Chinese scientists and engineers have been trained in our country. However, already in 1959-60. cooperation was curtailed, and Chinese science had to continue working on its own.
The first real results appeared several years later. On October 16, 1964, a test with the code "596" took place at the Lop Nor test site - it was the first Chinese atomic bomb. On June 17, 1967, the PRC tested the first thermonuclear warhead.
As a result of these events, the PRC became the fifth country in the world to receive atomic weapons, and the last of the "old" nuclear powers. In addition, China has become the fourth owner of thermonuclear weapons. Thus, the PRC in terms of technology development was on a par with the leading countries of the world. However, in order to obtain all the desired results, it was necessary to build delivery vehicles - and with them full-fledged strategic nuclear forces.
Bomb in the air
Like other countries, China began building a future nuclear triad with an air component. It is curious that the first carrier of the Chinese atomic bomb also had Soviet roots. In the late fifties, the USSR handed over to the PRC documentation on the Tu-16 long-range bomber.
The production of this machine was established under the designation Xian H-6. The first flight took place in September 1959, and soon the production aircraft went to the troops. Initially, the H-6 could only carry free-fall conventional bombs. There were no special ammunition or missiles at that time. Nevertheless, the Chinese aviation industry was working on the issues of further development of the armament complex.
On May 14, 1965, the first test of a nuclear bomb from a carrier aircraft took place at the Lop Nor test site. The weapon was used by a specially equipped H-6A with a set of necessary equipment. Two years later, a similar aircraft provided the first tests of thermonuclear weapons. By that time, the H-6A went into production and began to enter service with aviation units.
Thus, it was the H-6A bomber that became the first delivery vehicle for the Chinese strategic nuclear forces. In the future, new products appeared, but the H-6 retained its role. The bomber has been modernized several times and continues to serve up to this day. Modern versions of the H-6 continue to meet the challenges of nuclear deterrence using current types of weapons.
However, strategic aviation has long ceased to be the basis of the strategic nuclear forces. The reason for this was the emergence of other delivery vehicles, as well as the relatively small number of aircraft. The total production of H-6 bombers did not exceed 180-190 units, and not all of them are capable of carrying special ammunition.
Eastern wind
Soviet scientific and technical assistance also covered the area of missile technology. The USSR handed over documentation on several old ballistic missiles and the necessary technology. Based on the data received, China began developing missiles of the Dongfeng (East Wind) family.
In the late fifties, China copied the Soviet liquid-propellant tactical missile R-2. A copy called "Dongfeng-1" was first tested at the Shuangchengzi test site in November 1960. Later, this product went into a small series and was operated by the PLA to a limited extent. Since nuclear weapons were in development at that time, "Dongfeng-1" could only carry a conventional warhead.
Using the existing experience and Soviet technologies, the Dongfeng-2 rocket was created in the same period. It was already a medium-range ballistic missile (up to 1250 km), potentially capable of carrying a special warhead. The first launch of such an MRBM took place in March 1962, but ended in an accident. Analysis of the results of this incident led to the emergence of the improved design "Dongfeng-2A". This product has been successfully tested since June 1964.
On December 27, 1966, the PLA carried out the first launch of the Dongfeng-2A missile with a monoblock nuclear warhead. The rocket took off from the Shuangchengzi test site and delivered a 12 kt TNT warhead to the target at the Lop Nor test site. The firing range was 800 km.
After some modifications of the missile itself and combat equipment, the newest strike complex was adopted by the newly formed 2nd PLA Artillery Corps. Missiles "Dongfeng-2A" remained on duty until the early eighties, when they were replaced by newer systems. Further development of the ground-based component of the PRC's strategic nuclear forces was carried out at the expense of new missiles of the "Dongfeng" line. At the same time, products of different generations were united only by the name.
"Big Wave" in the ocean
The last in the composition of the strategic nuclear forces of the PRC appeared the naval component. Work on its creation started later than others and yielded results relatively recently. The first nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine took over duty only at the end of the eighties. Moreover, even now the naval component is not very large and is noticeably inferior to foreign nuclear fleets.
The first Chinese SSBN project was developed from the late sixties and bore the code "092". Due to the high complexity of the work, the work was delayed, and the laying of the first and only ship of this type took place only in 1978. In 1981, the boat of project 092 was launched. After that, several years had to be spent on testing and fine-tuning both the boat itself and its main armament.
Work on the topic of submarine ballistic missiles began simultaneously with the design of the future SSBN for them. Initially, it was planned to build an SLBM based on one of the Dongfeng missiles, but then they decided to make it from scratch. The Juilan-1 (Big Wave) project offered a lot of bold and challenging solutions, but produced more interesting results.
Development work on "Juilan-1" continued throughout the seventies and was accompanied by some success. So, in 1972, they carried out a throw-in launch from an experimental submarine, and later worked out some on-board systems.
June 17, 1981 SLBM "Juilan-1" made the first launch from the ground test complex. On October 12, 1982, the first launch from an experimental carrier boat took place. As a result of the development work, a rocket with a range of 1,700 km and the possibility of using a monoblock warhead with a capacity of up to 300 kt was created.
On September 28, 1985, the first rocket launch from the nuclear submarine of pr. 092 took place, which ended in an accident. In September 1988, the standard launch vehicle performed two successful launches. According to their results, the submarine and the rocket were recommended for commissioning and putting on duty.
According to various sources, the complex in the form of SSBNs pr. 092 and SLBM "Juilan-1" was not fully operational and could not carry a full-fledged combat alert. The permanent presence of the marine component in the seas was ensured only with the appearance of new SSBNs of project 094. Nevertheless, the first step in the construction of the naval component of the PRC's strategic nuclear forces was precisely "092" and "Tszyuilan-1".
From the past to the future
China became a nuclear power 55 years ago, and during this time managed to build full-fledged and combat-ready strategic nuclear forces. The first stages of construction were carried out with the direct support of Soviet specialists, after which they had to manage only on their own. Limited opportunities and the need to develop competencies led to a delay in work and rather modest end results.
According to the results of the first 55 years of its existence, the PRC's strategic nuclear forces look developed, but not devoid of shortcomings. The most efficient is the ground component, equipped with ballistic missiles of different classes, up to full-fledged ICBMs. Strategic aviation has less potential and is not very large in number. Moreover, for half a century it has been based on aircraft of the same type, albeit of different modifications. The naval component is also small in number, but has the necessary weapons in significant quantities.
China's nuclear triad is not the largest and most powerful in the world, but it is one of the top three, ahead of some other developed countries. The PLA's missile forces, long-range aviation and submarine fleet are capable of solving the tasks of strategic deterrence, and the PRC is doing everything possible to develop them. This means that the H-6A with free-fall bombs, Dongfeng-2A, Type 092 and Juilan-1 proved to be a good foundation for further construction.
