After J-20 beasts, Xi unleashes DF-61? China’s new mobile nuclear missile enters PLA service

China has reportedly inducted its new DF-61 road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile into the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, marking another development in Xi Jinping’s nuclear modernisation drive. First unveiled during Beijing’s September 2025 military parade, the missile has now entered routine training, including field mobility, position changes and launch drills, according to Chinese state media. Its road-mobile design could make China’s nuclear forces harder to track and target, adding another challenge for US military planners. However, Beijing has not disclosed the missile’s deployment numbers, exact range or warhead configuration. What does the DF-61’s reported induction mean for Trump and America’s nuclear calculations?