DF-21

For the China Railways DF21 narrow gauge locomotive, see List of locomotives in China § Diesel-electric transmission.
DF-21/CSS-5 Mod 1
DF-21 and transporter erector launcher vehicle at the Beijing Military Museum.
TypeMRBM/IRBM
Place of originChina
Service history
In service1991
Used byPeople's Liberation Army Rocket Force
Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force
Specifications
Mass14,700 kilograms (32,400 lb)
Length10.7 metres (35 ft)
Diameter1.4 metres (4.6 ft)
Warheadconventional 600kg: 1, or 5-6 (improved variant)[1] nuclear 200-300-500 kt nuclear[2]
EngineSolid fueled
Operational
range
1,770 km (1,100 mi) (DF-21/DF-21A)[3]
1,700 km (1,100 mi) (DF-21C)
1,500 km (930 mi; 810 nmi) (DF-21D ASBM)[4]
Maximum speed Mach 10 (estimated maximum before re-entry)
Guidance
system
Inertial + terminal active radar guidance[5]
AccuracyDF-21 700m, DF-21A 50m, DF-21B 10m CEP (with BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and active radar)[6]
Launch
platform
Mobile launcher

The Dongfeng 21 (DF-21; NATO reporting name CSS-5 - Dong-Feng (simplified Chinese: 东风; traditional Chinese: 東風; lit. 'East Wind') is a two-stage, solid-fuel, single-warhead medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) developed by China's Changfeng Mechanics and Electronics Technology Academy. A part of the Dongfeng missile family, the DF-21's development started in the late 1960s, and it was completed around 1985–86, but not deployed until 1991. It was developed from the JL-1 submarine-launched missile, and is China's first solid-fuel land-based missile. The U.S. Department of Defense in 2008 estimated that China had 60-80 missiles and 60 launchers;[7] approximately 10-11 missiles can be built annually.[8]

Originally developed as a strategic weapon, the DF-21's later variants were designed for both nuclear and conventional missions. It is thought to be able to carry a high explosive, submunition for tactical/theater-level missions, or a 300 kt nuclear warhead for strategic strikes. The latest variant, the DF-21D, was said to be the world's first anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM). The DF-21 has also been developed into a space warfare-capable anti-satellite weapon/anti-missile weapon carrier.

Though the launcher vehicle itself is mobile to reduce vulnerability, an actual launch unit requires support vehicles that can cover a 300×300-meter area, making it hard to move quickly and easier to detect. Also, the wheeled launcher is not made to travel off-road and requires firm ground when firing to prevent backblast and debris damage due to the hard launch, restricting its firing locations to roads and pre-made launch pads.[9]

  1. ^ Fisher Jr, Richard (24 July 2007). "New Chinese Missiles Target the Greater Asian Region". International Assessment and Strategy Center - Research. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014.
  2. ^ "Nuclear Warhead Modernization". NTI. 2007. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05.
  3. ^ The Military Power of the People's Republic of China - Annual Report to Congress (PDF) (Report). Office of the Secretary of Defense. 2007. p. 42. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2007.
  4. ^ Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China (PDF). Office of the Secretary of Defense (Report). U.S. Department of Defense. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2014. The DF-21D has a range exceeding 1,500 km and is armed with a maneuverable warhead.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference sinodefence.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Duncan Lennox, ed., Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems, 51st ed. (Coulsdon, Surrey, U.K.:Jane's Information Group, 2010)
  7. ^ "Military Power of the People's Republic of China 2008" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of Defense. p. 56 (p66 of PDF).
  8. ^ "Pradun: From Bottle Rockets to Lightning Bolts, p.12". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  9. ^ Kristensen, Hans M. (September 28, 2010). "DF-21C Missile Deploys to Central China". fas.org. Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 27 November 2013.