China's Military Technological Milestones - Timeline

[Martian2]

210 B.C. (2,200 years ago): China invents chrome-plating technology during Qin Dynasty under emperor Qin Shihuang.

1964: China detonated a 22-kiloton atomic bomb during the Mao Zedong administration.

1967: China detonated a 3.3-megaton thermonuclear bomb that was designed with abacus calculations.

1971: China launched its first DF-5 ICBM.

1984: China built its first cryogenic YF-73 rocket engine.

1995: China test-detonates kiloton Neutron Bomb

1998: Chinese J-10 Vigorous Dragon had its first flight. Officially unveiled in 2007.

2000: Chinese JSTARS Tu-154M/D Electronic Intelligence Aircraft in service (e.g. Careless B-4138).

2001: Chinese Type 99 Main Battle Tank in service.

2002: China's Type 093 Shang-class nuclear attack submarine (SSN) is launched.

2003: China sends its first taikonaut Yang Liwei into space.
2003: China's KJ-2000 AWACS with domestic AESA radar has its first flight.

2005: China's Type 052C Lanzhou-class AESA-equipped destroyer entered service.

2006: China's WS-10A turbofan engine certified for production.

2007: China clones world's first rabbit.
2007: Chinese direct-ascent ASAT shoots down orbiting satellite.
2007: Chinese DF-31A MIRVed ICBM in service.

2008: China conducts its first spacewalk with taikonaut Zhai Zhigang.

2010: China builds world's-fastest supercomputer Tianhe-1A.
2010: Chinese GBI (i.e. ground based interceptor) shoots down a ballistic missile during mid-course phase.
2010: Chinese WZ-10 Attack Helicopter in service.
2010: Chinese Type 094 Jin-class nuclear missile ballistic submarine (SSBN) in service.

2011: China unveiled the J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth superfighter.

[Note: I will update this list as new weapon systems enter service. For example, China's Type 095 nuclear attack submarine is expected to enter service in 2015. Also, China's DF-41 10-MIRVed ICBM may have already entered service. However, we are waiting for an official unveiling.]

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

The DF-31A should have been deployed much earlier than 2007, those western sources usually underestimated China in both quality and quantity.

BTW, i also think the Type 094 should have been in service since 2005-2007 according to the military insiders and 2010 China may have launched the late ships of the Type 094.

 

[Sasquatch]

The DF-31A should have been deployed much earlier than 2007, those western sources usually underestimated China in both quality and quantity.

BTW, i also think the Type 094 should have been in service since 2005-2007 according to the military insiders and 2010 China may have launched the late ships of the Type 094.

You missed the one about nuclear weapons where china had 240 ? then it was moved to 400 then 500 ?

 

[ao333]

You missed the one about nuclear weapons where china had 240 ? then it was moved to 400 then 500 ?

Nuclear stockpile estimates are utter BS. Even top Chinese military officials wouldn't know, as nukes are organized horizontally, not top-down. What Chinese officials know, the CIA does too, which is always conflicting.

 

[Martian2]

China's 5,000km "Underground Great Wall" shields Chinese thermonuclear ICBMs from EMP

There are two different methods of shielding ICBMs from the EMP (electromagnetic pulse) of a First Strike.

Let's say a country decides to fire a "stealthy" 25-megaton-optimized EMP missile at an opposing country. This can be accomplished by sending a stealthy cruise missile that ascends to a high altitude before exploding. Alternatively, you can drop the 25-megaton EMP bomb from a pre-positioned warhead in orbit (e.g. send it up as a civilian payload and then trigger it during wartime).

For protection, the Chinese method is to build a 5,000km "Underground Great Wall" under a mountain range. The mountains will shield the Chinese ICBMs from the EMP effect. The proposed American method is to build 200,000-ton radiation-hardened ICBM mobile launchers. I think a 8x10^17 ton mountain (that is 10,000 feet high) provides a lot more radiation shielding than a mere 200,000 tons, but a second-best American solution is better than no shielding.

Let's ask why the U.S. is considering building radiation-hardened road-mobile ICBMs. The U.S. nuclear deterrent is based on a triad. The Air Force-based part of the triad isn't worth very much. Only the B-2 has the possibility of penetrating enemy air space. However, we don't know if a subsonic B-2 can indeed penetrate enemy air defenses with modern radars. Have you noticed the constant AESA radar upgrades by China? (See the post on China's next-generation Type 052C AESA radar.)

The U.S. is left with a land-based and sea-based ICBM deterrent. The positions of the land-based silos are all well-known. A simultaneous first strike from pre-positioned orbital thermonuclear warheads could wipe out all U.S. silo-based ICBMs. Low earth orbit begins at only 100 miles from the surface of the Earth.

The U.S. only has 14 Ohio-class thermonuclear-armed SSBNs. It is not difficult to imagine three upcoming Chinese Type 095s (or subsequent Type 097s) tasked with destroying each Ohio-class boomer.

In conclusion, the U.S. is thinking of playing it safe and building radiation-hardened road-mobile ICBMs. It's a good idea, but I don't think the U.S. has the money for it.

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Reference for U.S. radiation-hardened road-mobile launcher: Return of the Hard Mobile Launcher

Reference for 25-megaton super-EMP: Electro Magnetic Pulse

Reference for mass of a 10,000-foot mountain: How much does a mountain weigh?

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December 11, 2009: "Underground Great Wall" goes public

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I've added the 5,000km "Underground Great Wall" to the list of Chinese military milestones.

210 B.C. (2,200 years ago): China invents chrome-plating technology during Qin Dynasty under emperor Qin Shihuang.

1964: China detonated a 22-kiloton atomic bomb during the Mao Zedong administration.

1967: China detonated a 3.3-megaton thermonuclear bomb that was designed with abacus calculations.

1971: China launched its first DF-5 ICBM.

1984: China built its first cryogenic YF-73 rocket engine.

1995: China test-detonates kiloton Neutron Bomb

1998: Chinese J-10 Vigorous Dragon had its first flight. Officially unveiled in 2007.

2000: Chinese JSTARS Tu-154M/D Electronic Intelligence Aircraft in service (e.g. Careless B-4138).

2001: Chinese Type 99 Main Battle Tank in service.

2002: China's Type 093 Shang-class nuclear attack submarine (SSN) is launched.

2003: China sends its first taikonaut Yang Liwei into space.
2003: China's KJ-2000 AWACS with domestic AESA radar has its first flight.

2005: China's Type 052C Lanzhou-class AESA-equipped destroyer entered service.

2006: China's WS-10A turbofan engine certified for production.

2007: China clones world's first rabbit.
2007: Chinese direct-ascent ASAT shoots down orbiting satellite.
2007: Chinese DF-31A MIRVed ICBM in service.

2008: China conducts its first spacewalk with taikonaut Zhai Zhigang.

2009: Public disclosure of China's 5,000km "Underground Great Wall"

2010: China builds world's-fastest supercomputer Tianhe-1A.
2010: Chinese GBI (i.e. ground based interceptor) shoots down a ballistic missile during mid-course phase.
2010: Chinese WZ-10 Attack Helicopter in service.
2010: Chinese Type 094 Jin-class nuclear missile ballistic submarine (SSBN) in service.

2011: China unveiled the J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth superfighter.

[Note: I will update this list as new weapon systems enter service. For example, China's Type 095 nuclear attack submarine is expected to enter service in 2015. Also, China's DF-41 10-MIRVed ICBM may have already entered service. However, we are waiting for an official unveiling.]

 

[Martian2]

Next-generation AESA radar for China's Type 052C destroyer undergoes tests

The current S-band AESA radar for China's Type 052C destroyer is convex-shaped. It has "a maximum range of 450km and a maximum resolution of 0.5 meters."

The new next-generation AESA radar is flat and square-shaped (shown below). Its capabilities are currently unknown.

Close-up view of next-generation AESA radar for China's Type 052C destroyer. Try to ignore the distracting fence.

Next-generation AESA radar for the Type 052C destroyer undergoes tests on weapon-testbed Ship #891.

[Note: Thank you to Greyboy2 for the post.]

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I've added the first sighting of the next-generation AESA radar for Type 052C destroyer to the list. More importantly (because history will remember her), I've added pioneer taikonaut Liu Yang to the list.

210 B.C. (2,200 years ago): China invents chrome-plating technology during Qin Dynasty under emperor Qin Shihuang.

1964: China detonated a 22-kiloton atomic bomb during the Mao Zedong administration.

1967: China detonated a 3.3-megaton thermonuclear bomb that was designed with abacus calculations.

1971: China launched its first DF-5 ICBM.

1984: China built its first cryogenic YF-73 rocket engine.

1995: China test-detonates kiloton Neutron Bomb.

1998: Chinese J-10 Vigorous Dragon had its first flight. Officially unveiled in 2007.

2000: Chinese JSTARS Tu-154M/D Electronic Intelligence Aircraft in service (e.g. Careless B-4138).

2001: Chinese Type 99 Main Battle Tank in service.

2002: China's Type 093 Shang-class nuclear attack submarine (SSN) is launched.

2003: China sends its first taikonaut Yang Liwei into space.
2003: China's KJ-2000 AWACS with domestic AESA radar has its first flight.

2005: China's Type 052C Lanzhou-class AESA-equipped destroyer entered service.

2006: China's WS-10A turbofan engine certified for production.

2007: China clones world's first rabbit.
2007: Chinese direct-ascent ASAT shoots down orbiting satellite.
2007: Chinese DF-31A MIRVed ICBM in service.

2008: China conducts its first spacewalk with taikonaut Zhai Zhigang.

2009: Public disclosure of China's 5,000km "Underground Great Wall"

2010: China builds world's-fastest supercomputer Tianhe-1A.
2010: Chinese GBI (i.e. ground based interceptor) shoots down a ballistic missile during mid-course phase.
2010: Chinese WZ-10 Attack Helicopter in service.
2010: Chinese Type 094 Jin-class nuclear missile ballistic submarine (SSBN) in service.

2011: China unveiled the J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth superfighter.

2012: China sends its first woman taikonaut Liu Yang into space on a 10-day mission.
2012: First sighting of next-generation AESA radar for Type 052C destroyer.

[Note: I will update this list as new weapon systems enter service. For example, China's Type 095 nuclear attack submarine is expected to enter service in 2015. Also, China's DF-41 10-MIRVed ICBM may have already entered service. However, we are waiting for an official unveiling.]

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

Jiaolong's manned dive mission has made the historic moment as well.

Now we got the 6671 meters record, and it soon it gonna reach the 7000 meters one.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

You missed the one about nuclear weapons where china had 240 ? then it was moved to 400 then 500 ?

There is one thing you can make sure is that China's nuclear stockpile is no doubt in between that of USA/USSR and UK/France.

USA/USSR does have the maximum nuclear deterrence, while UK/France got the minimum one, while we got the sufficient nuclear deterrence.

 

[Martian2]

China's Military Technological Milestones - New Updates for 2012

210 B.C. (2,200 years ago): China invents chrome-plating technology during Qin Dynasty under emperor Qin Shihuang.

1964: China detonated a 22-kiloton atomic bomb during the Mao Zedong administration.

1967: China detonated a 3.3-megaton thermonuclear bomb that was designed with abacus calculations.

1971: China launched its first DF-5 ICBM.

1984: China built its first cryogenic YF-73 rocket engine.

1995: China test-detonates kiloton Neutron Bomb.

1998: Chinese J-10 Vigorous Dragon had its first flight. Officially unveiled in 2007.

2000: Chinese JSTARS Tu-154M/D Electronic Intelligence Aircraft in service (e.g. Careless B-4138).

2001: Chinese Type 99 Main Battle Tank in service.

2002: China's Type 093 Shang-class nuclear attack submarine (SSN) is launched.

2003: China sends its first taikonaut Yang Liwei into space.
2003: China's KJ-2000 AWACS with domestic AESA radar has its first flight.

2005: China's Type 052C Lanzhou-class AESA-equipped destroyer entered service.

2006: China's WS-10A turbofan engine certified for production.

2007: China clones world's first rabbit.
2007: Chinese direct-ascent ASAT shoots down orbiting satellite.
2007: Chinese DF-31A MIRVed ICBM in service.

2008: China conducts its first spacewalk with taikonaut Zhai Zhigang.

2009: Public disclosure of China's 5,000km "Underground Great Wall"

2010: China builds world's-fastest supercomputer Tianhe-1A.
2010: Chinese GBI (i.e. ground based interceptor) shoots down a ballistic missile during mid-course phase.
2010: Chinese WZ-10 Attack Helicopter in service.
2010: Chinese Type 094 Jin-class nuclear missile ballistic submarine (SSBN) in service.

2011: China unveiled the J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth superfighter.

2012: China sends its first woman taikonaut Liu Yang into space on a 10-day mission.
2012: Chinese Jialong manned submersible completes world record-breaking 7,000 meter dive.
2012: First sighting of next-generation AESA radar for Type 052C destroyer.
2012: Chinese DF-41 10-MIRV-capable ICBM with 12,000-15,000km range had first flight on July 24, 2012
2012: Chinese Type 056 corvette enters service.
2012: New Chinese thermonuclear-capable IRBM with 4,000km range (to potentially strike Guam).

[Note: I will update this list as new weapon systems enter service. For example, China's Type 095 nuclear attack submarine is expected to enter service in 2015. Also, China's DF-41 10-MIRVed ICBM may have already entered service. However, we are waiting for an official unveiling.]

 

[Martian2]

China's Military Technological Milestones - Four Additional New Updates

210 B.C. (2,200 years ago): China invents chrome-plating technology during Qin Dynasty under emperor Qin Shihuang.

1964: China detonated a 22-kiloton atomic bomb during the Mao Zedong administration.

1967: China detonated a 3.3-megaton thermonuclear bomb that was designed with abacus calculations.

1970: China successfully sends its first satellite to space - the Dong Fang Hong I

1971: China launched its first DF-5 ICBM.

1984: China built its first cryogenic YF-73 rocket engine.

1995: China test-detonates kiloton Neutron Bomb.

1998: Chinese J-10 Vigorous Dragon had its first flight. Officially unveiled in 2007.

2000: Chinese JSTARS Tu-154M/D Electronic Intelligence Aircraft in service (e.g. Careless B-4138).
2000: China successfully sends its first GPS satellite (Beidou) into space.

2001: Chinese Type 99 Main Battle Tank in service.

2002: China's Type 093 Shang-class nuclear attack submarine (SSN) is launched.

2003: China sends its first taikonaut Yang Liwei into space.
2003: China's KJ-2000 AWACS with domestic AESA radar has its first flight.

2005: China's Type 052C Lanzhou-class AESA-equipped destroyer entered service.

2006: China's WS-10A turbofan engine certified for production.

2007: China clones world's first rabbit.
2007: Chinese direct-ascent ASAT shoots down orbiting satellite.
2007: Chinese DF-31A MIRVed ICBM in service.

2008: China conducts its first spacewalk with taikonaut Zhai Zhigang.
2008: China sends it first data tracking and relay communications satellite - Tianlian I

2009: Public disclosure of China's 5,000km "Underground Great Wall"

2010: China builds world's-fastest supercomputer Tianhe-1A.
2010: Chinese GBI (i.e. ground based interceptor) shoots down a ballistic missile during mid-course phase.
2010: Chinese WZ-10 Attack Helicopter in service.
2010: Chinese Type 094 Jin-class nuclear missile ballistic submarine (SSBN) in service.

2011: China unveiled the J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth superfighter.

2012: China sends its first woman taikonaut Liu Yang into space on a 10-day mission.
2012: Chinese Jialong manned submersible completes world record-breaking 7,000 meter dive.
2012: First sighting of next-generation AESA radar for Type 052C destroyer.
2012: Chinese DF-41 10-MIRV-capable ICBM with 12,000-15,000km range had first flight on July 24, 2012
2012: Chinese Type 056 corvette enters service.
2012: New Chinese thermonuclear-capable IRBM with 4,000km range (to potentially strike Guam).
2012: China's Beidou System successfully covers all of China and the surrounding region.

[Note 1: I will update this list as new weapon systems enter service. For example, China's Type 095 nuclear attack submarine is expected to enter service in 2015.]

[Note 2: Thank you to Skipper for the four new additional entries.]

 

[terranMarine]

Maybe the invention of rocketry can be added in the list as well, somewhere in the 13th century.

 

[Martian2]

China's Military Technological Milestones - includes deployment of Chinese ASBM

210 B.C. (2,200 years ago): China invents chrome-plating technology during Qin Dynasty under emperor Qin Shihuang.

1964: China detonated a 22-kiloton atomic bomb during the Mao Zedong administration.

1967: China detonated a 3.3-megaton thermonuclear bomb that was designed with abacus calculations.

1970: China successfully sends its first satellite into space - the Dong Fang Hong I

1971: China successfully launched its first DF-5 ICBM with 12,000-15,000km range and capable of carrying a five-megaton "city buster" thermonuclear warhead.

1984: China built its first cryogenic YF-73 rocket engine.
1988: China test-detonates a 1- to 20-kiloton Neutron Bomb on September 29, 1988. (Source: Nuclear Weapon Tests - China Nuclear Forces | Federation of American Scientists)

1995*: China built indigenous DD3 nickel-based single-crystal superalloys prior to 1995. (Earliest English article citation is year 1995. However, actual DD3 discovery was probably closer to year 1990)

1998: Chinese J-10 Vigorous Dragon had its first flight. Officially unveiled in 2007.

2000: Chinese JSTARS Tu-154M/D Electronic Intelligence Aircraft in service (e.g. Careless B-4138).
2000: China successfully sends its first GPS satellite (Beidou) into space.

2001: Chinese Type 99 Main Battle Tank in service.

2002: China's Type 093 Shang-class nuclear attack submarine (SSN) is launched.

2003: China sends its first taikonaut Yang Liwei into space.
2003: China's KJ-2000 AWACS with domestic AESA radar has its first flight.
2003*: DD6 is China's indigenous second-generation nickel-based single-crystal superalloy (Earliest English article citation is year 2003. However, actual DD6 discovery was probably closer to year 2000.)

2005: China's Type 052C Lanzhou-class AESA-equipped destroyer entered service.

2006: China's WS-10A turbofan engine certified for production.

2007: China clones world's first rabbit.
2007: Chinese direct-ascent ASAT shoots down orbiting satellite.
2007: Chinese DF-31A MIRVed ICBM in service.

2008: China conducts its first spacewalk with taikonaut Zhai Zhigang.
2008: China orbits its first data tracking and relay communications satellite - Tianlian I

2009: Public disclosure of China's 5,000km "Underground Great Wall"

2010: China builds world's-fastest supercomputer Tianhe-1A.
2010: Chinese GBI (i.e. ground based interceptor) shoots down a ballistic missile during mid-course phase.
2010: Chinese WZ-10 Attack Helicopter in service.
2010: Chinese Type 094 Jin-class nuclear missile ballistic submarine (SSBN) in service.
2010: Chinese Yaogan 9 NOSS (Naval Ocean Surveillance System) satellite trio in orbit.

2011: Chengdu J-20 stealth superfighter has first flight on January 11, 2011.

2012: China sends its first woman taikonaut Liu Yang into space on a 10-day mission.
2012: Chinese Jialong manned submersible completes world record-breaking 7,000 meter dive.
2012: First sighting of next-generation AESA radar for Type 052C destroyer.
2012: DF-41 10-MIRV-capable ICBM with 12,000-15,000km range had first flight on July 24, 2012.
2012: Chinese Type 056 corvette enters service.
2012: New Chinese thermonuclear-capable IRBM with 4,000km range (to potentially strike Guam).
2012: China's Beidou System successfully covers all of China and the surrounding region.
2012: Shenyang J-31 medium-range stealth fighter has first flight on October 31, 2012.

2013: China's Y-20 heavy-lift military transport conducts first flight on January 26, 2013.
2013: "The Chinese military has deployed its new anti-ship ballistic missile [ASBM or "carrier killer"] along its southern coast facing Taiwan, the Pentagon’s top military intelligence officer said today." (Source: China’s Anti-Carrier Ballistic Missile Now Opposite Taiwan | Bloomberg)

[Note: I will update this list as new weapon systems enter service. For example, China's Type 095 nuclear attack submarine is expected to enter service in 2015.]

 

[Martian2]

China's Military Technological Milestones - includes Initial Operating Capability of JL-2 SLBM

210 B.C. (2,200 years ago): China invents chrome-plating technology during Qin Dynasty under emperor Qin Shihuang.

1964: China detonated a 22-kiloton atomic bomb during the Mao Zedong administration.

1967: China detonated a 3.3-megaton thermonuclear bomb that was designed with abacus calculations.

1970: China successfully sends its first satellite into space - the Dong Fang Hong I

1971: China successfully launched its first DF-5 ICBM with 12,000-15,000km range and capable of carrying a five-megaton "city buster" thermonuclear warhead.

1984: China built its first cryogenic YF-73 rocket engine.

1988: China test-detonates a 1- to 20-kiloton Neutron Bomb on September 29, 1988.

1995*: China built indigenous DD3 nickel-based single-crystal superalloys prior to 1995. (Earliest English article citation is year 1995. However, actual DD3 discovery was probably closer to year 1990)

1998: Chinese J-10 Vigorous Dragon had its first flight. Officially unveiled in 2007.

2000: Chinese JSTARS Tu-154M/D Electronic Intelligence Aircraft in service (e.g. Careless B-4138).
2000: China successfully sends its first GPS satellite (Beidou) into space.

2001: Chinese Type 99 Main Battle Tank in service.

2002: China's Type 093 Shang-class nuclear attack submarine (SSN) is launched.

2003: China sends its first taikonaut Yang Liwei into space.
2003: China's KJ-2000 AWACS with domestic AESA radar has its first flight.
2003*: DD6 is China's indigenous second-generation nickel-based single-crystal superalloy (Earliest English article citation is year 2003. However, actual DD6 discovery was probably closer to year 2000.)

2005: China's Type 052C Lanzhou-class AESA-equipped destroyer entered service.

2006: China's WS-10A turbofan engine certified for production.

2007: China clones world's first rabbit.
2007: Chinese direct-ascent ASAT shoots down orbiting satellite.
2007: Chinese DF-31A MIRVed ICBM in service.

2008: China conducts its first spacewalk with taikonaut Zhai Zhigang.
2008: China orbits its first data tracking and relay communications satellite - Tianlian I

2009: Public disclosure of China's 5,000km "Underground Great Wall"

2010: China builds world's-fastest supercomputer Tianhe-1A.
2010: Chinese GBI (i.e. ground based interceptor) shoots down a ballistic missile during mid-course phase.
2010: Chinese WZ-10 Attack Helicopter in service.
2010: Chinese Type 094 Jin-class nuclear missile ballistic submarine (SSBN) in service.
2010: Chinese Yaogan 9 NOSS (Naval Ocean Surveillance System) satellite trio in orbit.

2011: Chengdu J-20 stealth superfighter has first flight on January 11, 2011.

2012: China sends its first woman taikonaut Liu Yang into space on a 10-day mission.
2012: Chinese Jialong manned submersible completes world record-breaking 7,000 meter dive.
2012: First sighting of next-generation AESA radar for Type 052C destroyer.
2012: DF-41 10-MIRV-capable ICBM with 12,000-15,000km range had first flight on July 24, 2012.
2012: Chinese Type 056 corvette enters service.
2012: New Chinese thermonuclear-capable IRBM with 4,000km range (to potentially strike Guam).
2012: China's Beidou System successfully covers all of China and the surrounding region.
2012: Shenyang J-31 medium-range stealth fighter has first flight on October 31, 2012.

2013: China's Y-20 heavy-lift military transport conducts first flight on January 26, 2013.
2013: "The Chinese military has deployed its new anti-ship ballistic missile [ASBM or "carrier killer"] along its southern coast facing Taiwan, the Pentagon’s top military intelligence officer said today."
2013: "After a round of successful testing in 2012, the JL-2 appears ready to reach initial operational capability in 2013." (Source [p. 39, Pentagon 2013 report on Chinese Military Power]: http://www.defense.gov/pubs/2013_China_Report_FINAL.pdf)

[Note: Thank you to ChineseTiger1986 for noticing the Pentagon update on the JL-2 SLBM.]

 

[Martian2]

China's Military Technological Milestones - deployment of H-6K thermonuclear-capable bombers

210 B.C. (2,200 years ago): China invents chrome-plating technology during Qin Dynasty under emperor Qin Shihuang.

1964: China detonated a 22-kiloton atomic bomb during the Mao Zedong administration.

1967: China detonated a 3.3-megaton thermonuclear bomb that was designed with abacus calculations.

1970: China successfully sends its first satellite into space - the Dong Fang Hong I

1971: China successfully launched its first DF-5 ICBM with 12,000-15,000km range and capable of carrying a five-megaton "city buster" thermonuclear warhead.

1984: China built its first cryogenic YF-73 rocket engine.

1988: China test-detonates a 1- to 20-kiloton Neutron Bomb on September 29, 1988.

1995*: China built indigenous DD3 nickel-based single-crystal superalloys prior to 1995. (Earliest English article citation is year 1995. However, actual DD3 discovery was probably closer to year 1990)

1998: Chinese J-10 Vigorous Dragon had its first flight. Officially unveiled in 2007.

2000: Chinese JSTARS Tu-154M/D Electronic Intelligence Aircraft in service (e.g. Careless B-4138).
2000: China successfully sends its first GPS satellite (Beidou) into space.

2001: Chinese Type 99 Main Battle Tank in service.

2002: China's Type 093 Shang-class nuclear attack submarine (SSN) is launched.

2003: China sends its first taikonaut Yang Liwei into space.
2003: China's KJ-2000 AWACS with domestic AESA radar has its first flight.
2003*: DD6 is China's indigenous second-generation nickel-based single-crystal superalloy (Earliest English article citation is year 2003. However, actual DD6 discovery was probably closer to year 2000.)

2005: China's Type 052C Lanzhou-class AESA-equipped destroyer entered service.

2006: China's WS-10A turbofan engine certified for production.

2007: China clones world's first rabbit.
2007: Chinese direct-ascent ASAT shoots down orbiting satellite.
2007: Chinese DF-31A MIRVed ICBM in service.

2008: China conducts its first spacewalk with taikonaut Zhai Zhigang.
2008: China orbits its first data tracking and relay communications satellite - Tianlian I

2009: Public disclosure of China's 5,000km "Underground Great Wall"

2010: China builds world's-fastest supercomputer Tianhe-1A.
2010: Chinese GBI (i.e. ground based interceptor) shoots down a ballistic missile during mid-course phase.
2010: Chinese WZ-10 Attack Helicopter in service.
2010: Chinese Type 094 Jin-class nuclear missile ballistic submarine (SSBN) in service.
2010: Chinese Yaogan 9 NOSS (Naval Ocean Surveillance System) satellite trio in orbit.

2011: Chengdu J-20 stealth superfighter has first flight on January 11, 2011.

2012: China sends its first woman taikonaut Liu Yang into space on a 10-day mission.
2012: Chinese Jialong manned submersible completes world record-breaking 7,000 meter dive.
2012: First sighting of next-generation AESA radar for Type 052C destroyer.
2012: DF-41 10-MIRV-capable ICBM with 12,000-15,000km range had first flight on July 24, 2012.
2012: Chinese Type 056 corvette enters service.
2012: New Chinese thermonuclear-capable IRBM with 4,000km range (to potentially strike Guam).
2012: China's Beidou System successfully covers all of China and the surrounding region.
2012: Shenyang J-31 medium-range stealth fighter has first flight on October 31, 2012.

2013: China's Y-20 heavy-lift military transport conducts first flight on January 26, 2013.
2013: "The Chinese military has deployed its new anti-ship ballistic missile [ASBM or "carrier killer"] along its southern coast facing Taiwan, the Pentagon’s top military intelligence officer said today."
2013: "After a round of successful testing in 2012, the JL-2 appears ready to reach initial operational capability in 2013."
2013: China has deployed H-6K "God of War" bomber that is capable of carrying thermonuclear-capable CJ-10 cruise missiles. Source: Jane's Defence

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H-6K bombers delivered to PLA Air Force- China.org.cn

"H-6K bombers delivered to PLA Air Force
By Chen Boyuan
June 22, 2013

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force recently received 15 H-6K bombers with nuclear capabilities, according to British military digest Jane’s Defence Weekly.
...
Jane’s Defence was the first media outlet to confirm that the H6-K had formally entered active service.
...
H-6K reportedly has a combat radius of 3,500 KM. The nuclear-capable Changjian (long sword)-10 cruise missiles it carries have a range of 1,500-2,000 KM, effectively extending the bomber’s combat range to 4,000-5,000 KM - long enough to reach Okinawa, Guam and even Hawaii from China’s mainland."

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China's H-6K "God of War" bomber with CJ-10 thermonuclear-capable cruise missiles

 

[Martian2]

China's Military Technological Milestones - corrected date for DD3 discovery and added WS-13 single-crystal turbine blade technology

210 B.C. (2,200 years ago): China invents chrome-plating technology during Qin Dynasty under emperor Qin Shihuang.

1964: China detonated a 22-kiloton atomic bomb during the Mao Zedong administration.

1967: China detonated a 3.3-megaton thermonuclear bomb that was designed with abacus calculations.

1970: China successfully sends its first satellite into space - the Dong Fang Hong I

1971: China successfully launched its first DF-5 ICBM with 12,000-15,000km range and capable of carrying a five-megaton "city buster" thermonuclear warhead.

1984: China built its first cryogenic YF-73 rocket engine.

1986: China built indigenous DD3 nickel-based single-crystal superalloy. (Earliest English article citation is year 1995. However, the first published Chinese research paper on DD3 discovery was in 1986.) [Source on page 39: http://eprints.nias.res.in:8081/301/1/NIAS_Report_R4-2011.pdf]

1988: China test-detonates a 1- to 20-kiloton Neutron Bomb on September 29, 1988.

1998: Chinese J-10 Vigorous Dragon had its first flight. Officially unveiled in 2007.

2000: Chinese JSTARS Tu-154M/D Electronic Intelligence Aircraft in service (e.g. Careless B-4138).
2000: China successfully sends its first GPS satellite (Beidou) into space.

2001: Chinese Type 99 Main Battle Tank in service.

2002: China's Type 093 Shang-class nuclear attack submarine (SSN) is launched.

2003: China sends its first taikonaut Yang Liwei into space.
2003: China's KJ-2000 AWACS with domestic AESA radar has its first flight.
2003*: DD6 is China's indigenous second-generation nickel-based single-crystal superalloy (Earliest English article citation is year 2003. However, actual DD6 discovery was probably closer to year 2000.)

2005: China's Type 052C Lanzhou-class AESA-equipped destroyer entered service.

2006: China's WS-10A turbofan engine certified for production.
2006: First static test of the WS-13 turbofan engine with single-crystal turbine blades.

Sources:

WS-13 turbofan engine uses "single crystal turbine blades": WS13 / RD-33 / RD-93 engine
WS-13 turbofan engine had first static test in 2006: Russian media exposure for Xiaolong fighter R & D WS-13 Taishan engine - Page 2 - Military News

2007: China clones world's first rabbit.
2007: Chinese direct-ascent ASAT shoots down orbiting satellite.
2007: Chinese DF-31A MIRVed ICBM in service.

2008: China conducts its first spacewalk with taikonaut Zhai Zhigang.
2008: China orbits its first data tracking and relay communications satellite - Tianlian I

2009: Public disclosure of China's 5,000km "Underground Great Wall"

2010: China builds world's-fastest supercomputer Tianhe-1A.
2010: Chinese GBI (i.e. ground based interceptor) shoots down a ballistic missile during mid-course phase.
2010: Chinese WZ-10 Attack Helicopter in service.
2010: Chinese Type 094 Jin-class nuclear missile ballistic submarine (SSBN) in service.
2010: Chinese Yaogan 9 NOSS (Naval Ocean Surveillance System) satellite trio in orbit.

2011: Chengdu J-20 stealth superfighter has first flight on January 11, 2011.

2012: China sends its first woman taikonaut Liu Yang into space on a 10-day mission.
2012: Chinese Jialong manned submersible completes world record-breaking 7,000 meter dive.
2012: First sighting of next-generation AESA radar for Type 052C destroyer.
2012: DF-41 10-MIRV-capable ICBM with 12,000-15,000km range had first flight on July 24, 2012.
2012: Chinese Type 056 corvette enters service.
2012: New Chinese thermonuclear-capable IRBM with 4,000km range (to potentially strike Guam).
2012: China's Beidou System successfully covers all of China and the surrounding region.
2012: Shenyang J-31 medium-range stealth fighter has first flight on October 31, 2012.

2013: China's Y-20 heavy-lift military transport conducts first flight on January 26, 2013.
2013: "The Chinese military has deployed its new anti-ship ballistic missile [ASBM or "carrier killer"] along its southern coast facing Taiwan, the Pentagon’s top military intelligence officer said today."
2013: "After a round of successful testing in 2012, the JL-2 appears ready to reach initial operational capability in 2013."
2013: China has deployed H-6K "God of War" bomber that is capable of carrying thermonuclear-capable CJ-10 cruise missiles.