Graphic shows known locations of Chinese underground nuclear weapons silos
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MILITARY

China building new nuclear missile base

By Jordi Bou

July 28, 2021 - Satellite images appear to show China is building a new nuclear missile silo field, indicating a potentially vast expansion of Beijing’s nuclear arsenal. It is the second such discovery in weeks.

The images from Xinjiang province suggest the site could house about 110 silos when it is finished, says the report from the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).

For decades, they noted, China has operated about 20 silos for big, liquid-fuel missiles, called the DF-5. But the new fields will provide around 250 new silos – more than 10 times the number currently
in operation.

Also, the new silos may be loaded with the new three-stage, solid fuel DF-41 missile, which can carry multiple warheads and reach targets up to 15,000km, putting U.S. mainland within reach.

A 2020 Pentagon report estimated China's nuclear warhead stockpile in “the low 200s” and said it was projected to at least double in size as Beijing expands and modernizes its forces. Analysts say the U.S. has around 3,800 warheads, and according to a State Department factsheet, 1,357 of those were deployed as of March 1.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 28/07/2021; STORY: Graphic News
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