CNS - Chinese Ballistic Missiles

Archived Material

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ARCHIVED MATERIAL

This page is no longer being reviewed/updated.

Resources on China

Chinese Ballistic Missiles

The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) (1st Academy) of the China Aerospace Corporation (CASC) oversees China's research, design, development, and production of ballistic missiles. To view images of China's ballistic missiles, see the website Dragon in Space.

System Name [US name in brackets] Range and Payload Warhead and Yield Propulsion and Guidance Estimated CEP Comments

DF-2
[CSS-1] 1.9-3.7 km No longer deployed

DF-3/3A
[CSS-2] 2800 km
2150 kg
-Single nuclear warhead, 1-5 MT (3.3 MT)
-Single conventional warhead
Single-stage; storable liquid propellant (AK-27/UDMH); Fully inertial strap-down guidance system 2.5-4.0 km 120-150 minute launch preparation time; road-mobile; all DF-3 to be replaced by the DF-21 by 2002

DF-4
[CSS-3] 4750 km
2200 kg
Single nuclear warhead, 1-5 MT (3.3 MT) Two-stage, non-storable liquid propellant (LOX/kerosene) 3.0-3.5 km 60-120 minute launch preparation time; also used as booster for CZ-1 SLV

DF-5/5A
[CSS-4] 13000+ km
3200 kg
Single nuclear warhead, 1-5 MT (4-5 MT) Two-stage; storable liquid propellant (N2O4/UDMH); gyro-platform with onboard computer 0.5-3.0 km 30-60 minute launch preparation time; also used as booster for CZ-2, CZ-3, CZ-4 SLVs

DF-21/21A
[CSS-5]
[Mod 1&2] 1800 km
600 kg
-Single nuclear warhead, 200-300 kT
-Single conventional warhead
Two-stage; solid propellant; gyro-platform inertial guidance with onboard computer; working on terminal guidance system 0.3-0.4 km 10-15 minute launch preparation time; land-mobile; reportedly replacing DF-3 in some deployment areas; same missile as JL-1 SLBM

DF-15/M-9
[CSS-6/ CSS-X-6/
CSST-600] 600 km
950 kg
-Single nuclear warhead, 50-350 kT
-Single or cluster conventional warhead
Single-stage; solid propellant; strap-down inertial computer-digitized guidance system with terminal control 0.3 km 30 minute launch preparation time; M-9 version designed explicitly for export; the nuclear role for the CSS-6 is as yet unconfirmed; enhancing accuracy with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology

DF-11/
M-11/
RDF-11S
[CSS-7/
CSS-X-7] 300 km
800 kg
-Single nuclear warhead, 350 kT
-Single or cluster conventional warhead
Two-stage; solid propellant; strap-down inertial computer-digitized guidance system with terminal control 30-45 minute launch preparation time; M-11 version designed explicitly for export

M-7/8610
[CSS-8] 160 km
190 kg
-Conventional warhead Two-stage; solid propellant booster and storable liquid propellant main engine Modification of HQ-2 (SA-2) SAM

DF-25 1700 km
2000 kg
-Single conventional warhead Two-stage; solid propellant Development cancelled; based on first two stages of DF-31; land-mobile

DF-31
(under development) 8000 km
700 kg
-Single nuclear warhead, 200-300 kT (100-200 kT) (500 kT)
-Possibly equipped with MRV/MIRV capability
Three-stage; solid propellant 0.5 km Under late stage of development (tested); 10-15 minute launch preparation time; land-mobile; most likely cave-based; same missile as JL-2 SLBM; nuclear warhead awaits certification; to be deployed about 2000; to replace the DF-4 1; could incorporate penetration aids such as decoys or chaff

DF-41
(under development) 12000 km
800 kg (700 kg)
-Single nuclear warhead, 200-300 kT
-Possibly equipped with MRV/MIRV capability
Three-stage; solid propellant 0.7-0.8 km Under development; 3-5 minute launch preparation time; land-mobile; will replace DF-5; possible deployment around 2010; warhead awaits certification

JL-1
[CSS-N-4]
SLBM 1700 km
600 kg
-Nuclear warhead, 200-300 kT (500 kT) Two-stage; solid propellant; gyro-platform inertial guidance with onboard computer 1.0 km Same missile as the DF-21/21A

JL-2
[CSS-N-4/
CSS-NX-4]
SLBM 8000 km
700 kg
-Nuclear warhead, 200-300 kT
-Possibly will be equipped with MRV/MIRV capability
Three-stage; solid propellant 1.0 km Under development; same missile as the DF-31; projected to be operational in late 1990s; warhead awaits certification. To be deployed on new 09-4 SSBN, currently under development; 09-4 will not be deployed until after 2000

SYSTEM NAMES IN ITALICS ARE NOT CURRENTLY DEPLOYED

Notes:
"DF" stands for "Dong Feng" ("East Wind")
"JL" stands for "Julang" ("Great Wave")
"CSS" stands for "Chinese Surface-to-Surface"
"CSS-N" stands for "Chinese Surface-to-Surface Naval"
"CSST" stands for "Chinese Surface-to-Surface Tactical"

[Sources: Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems, various issues; Bates Gill, "China's Military Modernization: Implications For Proliferation," Presentation at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies, 27 February 1996; "Chinese Nuclear Forces 1993," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, November 1993, p. 57; "Chinese Nuclear And Conventional Forces 1993," Arms Control Today, December 1993, p. 29; Duncan Lennox, "Briefing: Ballistic Missiles," Jane's Defence Weekly, 17 April 1996, pp. 40-44; Nuclear Weapons Databook, Volume 5, pp. 370, 372; SIPRI Yearbook 1995, pp. 333, 378; Bill Gertz, "Chinese ICBM Will Threaten U.S., Pacific by 2000," Washington Times, 23 May 1997, p. 1]

For more on China's missiles and potential nuclear-delivery systems, see:

China's Nuclear Stockpile and Deployments

For information on China's ballistic missile modernization, see

China's Nuclear-Capable Delivery System Modernization

Last Updated March 1999

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