Intercontinental ballistic missile launch.
Share this @internewscast.com

CHINA has given rare insight into its souped-up DF-5B nuclear missile – a 7,500-mile-range weapon with staggering explosive power.

The missile reportedly contains a destructive power hundreds of times greater than the bombs that annihilated Hiroshima and Nagasaki, causing tens of thousands of deaths during World War II.

Intercontinental ballistic missile launch.
China’s DF-5B nuclear weapons are said to have a 7,500-mile range and an explosive yield of four megatonnes of TNTCredit: AFP
President Xi Jinping at a press conference.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has claimed in the past that China’s arsenal is for self-defenceCredit: Getty
Illustration of China's DF-5B nuclear missile with specifications.

While China has traditionally maintained secrecy regarding its nuclear program, state broadcaster CCTV disclosed information on Monday concerning the enhanced DF-5B intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

This missile boasts a maximum range of 7,500 miles and an accuracy of 0.3 miles, as per reports by journalist Li Zexin on X.

This range is enough to reach most of Europe and nearly all of the US from launch sites inside China.

For example, the distance from Beijing to London is around 5,000 miles and from China to New York is roughly 7,000 miles.

The DF-5B is said to deliver a yield of three to four megatonnes.

This ICBM is approximately 200 times more powerful than the nuclear bomb deployed on Hiroshima in 1945, which had an estimated explosive yield of roughly 15 kilotonnes of TNT.

It also far surpasses the destructive power of the bomb unleashed on Nagasaki, which had a yield of around 21 kilotonnes of TNT.

The hi-tech missile has integrated Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle technology – allowing it to carry and release multiple nuclear warheads at once.

A single DF-5B missile can release up to 10 warheads, striking different targets across wide areas.

Since each warhead is independent, missile defence systems find it much harder to intercept, making this weapon far more lethal than other known weapons.

Illustration of China's DF-5B nuclear missile with specifications.
DF-5B intercontinental ballistic missiles on military transport vehicles in Tiananmen Square during a military parade.
Military vehicles carrying DF-5B missiles participate in a military parade in Beijing in 2019Credit: AFP
Inside world’s craziest city where you never know which floor you’re on, trains run through houses & maps are useless

CCTV described the missile as China’s “first-generation strategic ICBM”.

The DF-5B, first created in 2015, is an upgraded variant of China’s original DF-5 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) which entered service in 1981.

It’s unclear why this information was released, but it is believed that Beijing wants to showcase its military modernisation and deter potential threats.

It comes just days after China deployed its most dangerous nuclear bombers to a tiny island, as revealed by satellite pictures.

Aerial photos show two hulking H-6 bombers on an airfield on Woody Island in the South China Sea, taken on May 19.

The long-range aircraft date back to the 1950s, and were modelled on Soviet-era warplanes.

But they have been upgraded to carry modern weapons, including hypersonic and nuclear missiles.

They are considered China’s most advanced bombers, and this is the first time they have been spotted on the outpost in five years.

US intelligence previously warned that China could seize Taiwan’s smaller islands as the first step of a full-scale invasion.

In September 2024, China launched a nuclear-capable missile into the Pacific Ocean, marking the first test in 40 years.

The ICBM, launched by the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, carried a dummy warhead.

The Chinese defence ministry said in a statement the rocket “fell into expected sea areas”, and that it was a “routine arrangement in our annual training plan”.

China said the test was not directed at any country or target, and that it “informed the countries concerned in advance”, reports claimed.

Aerial view of multiple aircraft parked on a tarmac.
A KJ-500 early warning plane and Y-20 transport aircraft parked on the tarmac on Woody IslandCredit: Reuters
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Israeli airstrike in Lebanon kills al-Manar TV's Ali Shoeib, Al-Mayadeen TV's Fatima Ftouni and her brother Mohammed

Tragic Airstrike in Lebanon Claims Lives of Journalists Ali Shoeib and Fatima Ftouni

In a tragic incident, three journalists lost their lives during an Israeli…
Spanish government's Jimmy Gracey autopsy claims stump forensic expert: 'problem for me'

Forensic Expert Puzzled by Spanish Government’s Autopsy Report on Jimmy Gracey

A seasoned forensic expert is expressing doubts about the Spanish government’s statements…
Southwest pilot aborts Hollywood Burbank landing because runway 'wasn't quite clear': report

Swift Action by Southwest Pilot: Hollywood Burbank Landing Aborted Due to Unclear Runway Conditions

A Southwest Airlines pilot was captured on video explaining to passengers why…
Four injured in Upper West Side high rise fire

Four Sustained Injuries in Upper West Side High-Rise Fire Incident

A fire erupted in an Upper West Side high-rise, leaving four people…
U.S. forces striking Iranian naval vessel

Iran Resolute in Pursuit of ‘Complete Victory’ Amid Significant Military Setbacks

An Iranian military official declared on Tuesday that Tehran’s forces remain committed…
'No Kings' protests today: Bruce Springsteen to perform 'Streets of Minneapolis' at St. Paul, Minnesota 'No Kings' protest

Bruce Springsteen Headlines ‘No Kings’ Protest in St. Paul with Exclusive ‘Streets of Minneapolis’ Performance

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Organizers of the “No Kings” rallies, scheduled across…
Up to 1,000 Iranian 'sleeper' agents embedded in Canada: Gov't official

Canadian Officials Reveal Presence of Potential Iranian Agents Across the Country

According to experts, up to 1,000 former members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary…
Mounting concerns about Iran 'sleeper cells' after 1,500 stopped at border

Unveiling the Threat: 1,500 Iranian ‘Sleeper Cells’ Halted at Border Sparks Security Alarm

Under the Biden Administration, authorities intercepted approximately 1,500 Iranians at the border,…
Facial recognition helped crack alleged student murder by illegal migrant – new bill could ban it: ret. cop

How Facial Recognition Technology Solved a Student Murder Case and Why Its Future Hangs in the Balance

In a controversial move, a proposed bill in the Illinois state legislature…
MTA worker beaten and robbed in Bronx station lot, cops say

Shocking Attack: MTA Worker Brutally Assaulted and Robbed at Bronx Station Lot

In the Bronx on Saturday morning, an MTA employee fell victim to…
St. John, Indiana woman Jenna Strouble, charged with murder after 3 Crete Township deaths on East Norway Trail, waives extradition

Jenna Strouble Faces Murder Charges in Crete Township Triple Homicide; Waives Extradition to Indiana

In Crete Township, Illinois, a 30-year-old woman from Indiana has been formally…
LAUSD Insider Now Hit With $22M in Money-Laundering Charges

LAUSD Official Faces $22 Million Money Laundering Allegations

It seems that headlines featuring fraud and embezzlement are becoming more common…