The Julang-1 (, also known as the JL-1; NATO reporting name CSS-N-3) was China's first generation nuclear submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). The JL-1 and its warheads are believed to be retired and dismantled.
On 26 March 1967, the National Defense Science and Technology Commission began working on the SLBM JL-1 (Julang, "Great Wave"). The Ninth Academy simultaneously conceptualized a smaller thermonuclear warhead for the missile. In 1970, the Ninth Academy completed a theoretical design for the thermonuclear warhead.
The general designer of the missile was Huang Weilu, and Chen Deren (, 1922 â 21 December 2007) served as his deputy. The missile was assembled at Factory 307 (now Nanjing Dawn Group [Ã¥ÂÂ京æ¨å ÂéÂÂå¢]).
The JL-1 was deployed on Xia class submarine in 1986. The Type 092 Xia class nuclear submarine has 12 launch tubes.
The JL-1 was initially tested and deployed on the PLAN's modified Golf class SSB. The Golf has since been modified again for further testing of other missiles, such as the JL-2, which has test-launched multiple times with varying levels of success.
The DF-21 appears to be a land-based version of the JL-1.
A 2011 US Department of Defense described the operational status of the JL-1 as "questionable". As of 2018, the JL-1 and its warheads are believed to have been retired and dismantled.