China Strengthens Nuclear Deterrent as DF-61 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Enters Rocket Force.

China has incorporated its DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missile into routine training with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force, marking another stage in the modernization of its land-based nuclear deterrent. First publicly displayed during a military parade in Beijing, the missile is now participating in exercises involving field movements, changes of launch positions, and launch preparations. Its integration comes as China continues expanding its nuclear arsenal and developing delivery systems capable of striking targets at intercontinental ranges.

China's DF-61 road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile displayed during the military parade in Beijing on September 3, 2025, ahead of its reported integration into regular PLA Rocket Force training ( China Military) 

Key Tactical Insights:

• Nuclear force integration: The DF-61 is now participating in routine PLA Rocket Force training, confirming its entry into service following its first public appearance in September 2025.
  
  
• Technical specifications: The DF-61 is a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile carried on a 16-wheel mobile launcher. Its maximum range is estimated at approximately 18,000 kilometers, although China has not officially confirmed this figure.
  
  
• Strategic arsenal expansion: Its introduction accompanies the modernization of China's nuclear forces, with the Federation of American Scientists estimating the country's stockpile at approximately 620 nuclear warheads in 2026.

The DF-61 joins a family of intercontinental missiles that includes the DF-31 and DF-41, already used as part of China's land-based nuclear deterrent. Its introduction reflects Beijing's efforts to modernize its long-range strike systems while maintaining a combination of mobile missiles and fixed installations. The addition of another delivery system could provide the Rocket Force with greater operational flexibility in carrying out its central mission of maintaining China's nuclear retaliatory capability.

On November 5, 2026, Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) confirmed that the DF-61 had entered service with the PLA Rocket Force and was participating in regular training activities. Military commentator Shao Yongling explained that the missile had completed its development, qualification, trial deployment, and reliability verification phases before its public presentation. According to CCTV, compatibility with existing command, communications, and logistical support networks also facilitated its introduction into service.

Related News: China modernizes its nuclear capabilities with new DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missile

DF-61 Could Reach 18,000 Kilometers From a Mobile Launcher

The DF-61 was first publicly displayed on September 3, 2025, during a military parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. It appeared alongside the land-based DF-31BJ, the submarine-launched JL-3, and the air-launched JL-1 missile, illustrating the three components of China's nuclear deterrent.

The DF-61 uses a 16-wheel transporter-erector-launcher and solid-fuel propulsion. Its maximum range is estimated at approximately 18,000 kilometers, while some assessments suggest that it may be capable of carrying multiple independently targetable nuclear warheads. However, Beijing has not officially confirmed these characteristics. Such a range would theoretically allow the missile to reach the entire continental United States from Chinese territory, while solid-fuel propulsion facilitates storage and reduces launch preparation requirements compared with older liquid-fueled missiles.

The DF-61 development program remains largely classified. A study published in 2026 by the Federation of American Scientists notes that its launcher closely resembles that of the DF-41, raising the possibility that the missile represents an evolution of the existing system rather than an entirely new architecture. The four vehicles displayed during the 2025 parade reportedly came from the 651st Brigade, stationed in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia. A satellite image from March 2026 also showed a launcher at the base that could have been either a DF-41 or a DF-61. These observations, however, do not establish how many DF-61 missiles have been manufactured or are currently in service.

The PLA Rocket Force already has experience operating mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles. The DF-31 and DF-41 form part of this capability, while silo-based DF-5 missiles constitute another element of its land-based strategic forces. The DF-61's introduction could support the continued modernization of this arsenal with a system designed to relocate and prepare for launch from different positions.

DF-61 Joins China's Expanding Nuclear Missile Arsenal

The integration of the DF-61 comes amid rapid growth in China's nuclear capabilities. According to estimates published in 2026 by the Federation of American Scientists, China possesses approximately 620 nuclear warheads, compared with around 200 at the beginning of the decade. The 2025 U.S. report on Chinese military capabilities, meanwhile, estimates that Beijing could exceed 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.

This expansion is driven partly by the construction of new missile silo fields and the development of mobile launch forces. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China had already loaded hundreds of missiles into three large silo complexes in the northern part of the country by early 2026. The DF-61 fits into this transformation by adding another mobile system to China's existing intercontinental missile forces. Its actual contribution will nevertheless depend on the number of missiles deployed and their ability to sustain deterrence missions over time.

The exercises reported by CCTV specifically involve launcher movements, changes of position, and launch procedures. These activities allow crews to practice missile operations away from permanent facilities and reduce their vulnerability to preemptive strikes. Mobile launchers also require a potential adversary to monitor a wider geographical area to locate them. The effectiveness of this approach, however, depends on opposing reconnaissance capabilities, communications security, and the logistical support available to Chinese missile units.

For the United States and its allies, this development presents a growing strategic challenge. The expansion of China's nuclear forces increases the number of delivery systems capable of reaching American territory, while the combination of missile silos, mobile launchers, and ballistic missile submarines complicates planning for a possible counterstrike. Against a backdrop of tensions surrounding Taiwan and military competition in the Indo-Pacific, Beijing could acquire a larger and more survivable nuclear deterrent. Although the DF-61's exact capabilities remain partly unknown, its integration into Rocket Force training confirms China's continued nuclear modernization and the challenges it presents to the strategic balance with Washington.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in Security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.

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