BEIJING - China's rocket force has begun using the Dongfeng-61 intercontinental ballistic missile, unveiled at a military parade in Beijing last year, in routine training, state-run China Central Television said Thursday.
The land-based ICBM was unveiled at a September 2025 parade in Tiananmen Square marking the 80th anniversary of Japan's formal surrender in World War II.
A military analyst said the Dongfeng-61 had moved from its public debut to routine training faster than the typical timeline for ICBMs to achieve combat readiness, according to CCTV.
China's land-based nuclear counterstrike capability has improved, with greater survivability and an enhanced ability to penetrate enemy defenses, the analyst was quoted as saying.
Hong Kong's Sing Tao Daily said the Dongfeng-61 is an upgraded version of the Dongfeng-41, which has a range capable of reaching anywhere in the United States.
The new ICBM, equipped with a more accurate guidance system, is estimated to have a range of up to 18,000 kilometers, according to the newspaper.
