DF-21
Encyclopedia
The Dong-Feng 21 is a two-stage, solid-propellant, single-warhead medium-range ballistic missile
(MRBM) developed by China Changfeng Mechanics and Electronics Technology Academy. Development started in the late 1960s and was completed around 1985-86, but it was not deployed until 1991. It was developed from the submarine
-launched JL-1
missile, and is China's first solid-fuel land-based missile
. The U.S. Department of Defense
estimates that China has 60-80 missiles and 60 launchers.
Originally developed as a strategic weapon, the DF-21's later variants were designed for both nuclear and conventional missions. As well as a nuclear warhead of around 300kt, it is thought that high explosive, submunition and chemical warheads are available. The latest 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-capable anti-satellite/anti-missile weapon carrier.
of 300~400m. This version did not enter operational service.
(CEP) of 100~300m, with both GPS and a radar-based terminal guidance system
in a redesigned nose. It is thought to have a lower yield, around 90kt
, but longer range (up to 2700 km).
missile. Its maximum range is believed to be about 1700 kilometres (1,056.3 mi). The accuracy of DF-21C is comparable to a cruise missile. The new GPS-based guidance system has reduced the missile’s CEP to 30~40m, enabling it for precision-strike missions.
In 2010, the DF-21C was being deployed in central Western China.
The US Department of Defense has stated that China has developed and reached initial operating capability
of a conventionally-armed high hypersonic land-based anti-ship ballistic missile
(ASBM) based on the DF-21. This would be the world's first ASBM and the world's first weapons system capable of targeting a moving aircraft carrier
strike group from long-range, land-based mobile launchers.
These would combine maneuverable reentry vehicle
s (MaRVs) with some kind of terminal guidance system. Such a missile may have been tested in 2005-6, and the launch of the Jianbing-5/YaoGan-1 and Jianbing-6/YaoGan-2 satellites would give the Chinese targeting information from SAR
(Synthetic Aperture Radar) and visual imaging respectively. The upgrades would greatly enhance China's ability to conduct sea-denial operations to prevent US carriers from intervening in the Taiwan Strait. A professor at the U.S. Naval War College says that carrier-killing missiles underscore that the U.S. can no longer assume naval supremacy as it has since the end of World War II
.
China has recently launched a series of satellites to support its ASBM efforts:
It is rumored that there are other versions of KT under development, but these claims have yet to be verified.
Medium-range ballistic missile
A medium-range ballistic missile , is a type of ballistic missile with medium range, this last classification depending on the standards of certain organizations. Within the U.S. Department of Defense, a medium range missile is defined by having a maximum range of between 1,000 and 3,000 km1...
(MRBM) developed by China Changfeng Mechanics and Electronics Technology Academy. Development started in the late 1960s and was completed around 1985-86, but it was not deployed until 1991. It was developed from the submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
-launched JL-1
JL-1
The Julang-1, also known as the JL-1 and in US nomenclature as the CSS-N-3, is China's first submarine launched nuclear ballistic missile.-History:...
missile, and is China's first solid-fuel land-based missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
. The U.S. Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
estimates that China has 60-80 missiles and 60 launchers.
Originally developed as a strategic weapon, the DF-21's later variants were designed for both nuclear and conventional missions. As well as a nuclear warhead of around 300kt, it is thought that high explosive, submunition and chemical warheads are available. The latest DF-21D was said to be the world's first anti-ship ballistic missile
Anti-ship ballistic missile
An anti-ship ballistic missile is a military quasiballistic missile system currently in developement, of medium or intermediate range, designed to hit a warship at sea...
(ASBM). The DF-21 has also been developed into a space-capable anti-satellite/anti-missile weapon carrier.
DF-21 (CSS-5 Mod-1)
The basic variant DF 21 has a maximum range of 1,700 km, and a payload of 600 kg. The missile can carry a single 500kT nuclear warhead, with an estimated CEPCircular error probable
In the military science of ballistics, circular error probable is an intuitive measure of a weapon system's precision...
of 300~400m. This version did not enter operational service.
DF-21A (CSS-5 Mod-2)
The DF-21A was operational by 1996 and has improved accuracy with an estimated circular error probableCircular error probable
In the military science of ballistics, circular error probable is an intuitive measure of a weapon system's precision...
(CEP) of 100~300m, with both GPS and a radar-based terminal guidance system
Guidance system
A guidance system is a device or group of devices used to navigate a ship, aircraft, missile, rocket, satellite, or other craft. Typically, this refers to a system that navigates without direct or continuous human control...
in a redesigned nose. It is thought to have a lower yield, around 90kt
KT
-Science:* kT in Physics* Knot , a unit of velocity * Kardashev scale, method of measuring an advanced civilization's level of technological advancement...
, but longer range (up to 2700 km).
DF-21C (CSS-5 Mod-3)
Revealed in 2006, DF-21C is believed to be a mod of DF-21. Its actual designation is unknown; it may be a version of the DF-25DF-25
DF-25 is a Chinese two-stage, solid-propellant, mobile-launch medium-range ballistic missile . The system entered service with the Second Artillery Corps of the People's Liberation Army in 2004/2005. It can deliver a single and multiple conventional warheads weighting 2,000 kg over a maximum...
missile. Its maximum range is believed to be about 1700 kilometres (1,056.3 mi). The accuracy of DF-21C is comparable to a cruise missile. The new GPS-based guidance system has reduced the missile’s CEP to 30~40m, enabling it for precision-strike missions.
In 2010, the DF-21C was being deployed in central Western China.
DF-21D (CSS-5 Mod-4) Anti-ship ballistic missile
Initial operating capability
Initial operating capability or Initial operational capability is the state achieved when a capability is available in its minimum usefully deployable form. The term is often used in government or military procurement....
of a conventionally-armed high hypersonic land-based anti-ship ballistic missile
Anti-ship ballistic missile
An anti-ship ballistic missile is a military quasiballistic missile system currently in developement, of medium or intermediate range, designed to hit a warship at sea...
(ASBM) based on the DF-21. This would be the world's first ASBM and the world's first weapons system capable of targeting a moving aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
strike group from long-range, land-based mobile launchers.
These would combine maneuverable reentry vehicle
Maneuverable reentry vehicle
The maneuverable reentry vehicle is a type of ballistic missile warhead capable of shifting targets in flight...
s (MaRVs) with some kind of terminal guidance system. Such a missile may have been tested in 2005-6, and the launch of the Jianbing-5/YaoGan-1 and Jianbing-6/YaoGan-2 satellites would give the Chinese targeting information from SAR
Synthetic aperture radar
Synthetic-aperture radar is a form of radar whose defining characteristic is its use of relative motion between an antenna and its target region to provide distinctive long-term coherent-signal variations that are exploited to obtain finer spatial resolution than is possible with conventional...
(Synthetic Aperture Radar) and visual imaging respectively. The upgrades would greatly enhance China's ability to conduct sea-denial operations to prevent US carriers from intervening in the Taiwan Strait. A professor at the U.S. Naval War College says that carrier-killing missiles underscore that the U.S. can no longer assume naval supremacy as it has since the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
China has recently launched a series of satellites to support its ASBM efforts:
- YaoganYaoganYaogan refers to a series of Chinese reconnaissance satellites launched in the early 21st century...
-VII electro-optical satellite - 9 December 2009 - Yaogan-VIII synthetic aperture radarSynthetic aperture radarSynthetic-aperture radar is a form of radar whose defining characteristic is its use of relative motion between an antenna and its target region to provide distinctive long-term coherent-signal variations that are exploited to obtain finer spatial resolution than is possible with conventional...
satellite - 14 December 2009 - Yaogan-IX Naval Ocean Surveillance SystemNaval Ocean Surveillance SystemThe Naval Ocean Surveillance System , reportedly also called White Cloud and PARCAE, refers to one or several systems of SIGINT satellites which conducted ELINT for the U.S. Navy beginning in the early 1970s....
(NOSS) constellation (3 satellites in formation) - 5 March 2010.
KT ABM/ASAT
KT series anti-ballistic / anti satellite missiles is reportedly a series of highly classified and thus little known missiles based on DF-21. Designed to intercept ballistic missiles and satellites, KT series utilizes experience gained from earlier FJ ABM developed decades earlier. Four models of KT series have been developed so far, including KT-1, KT-2, KT-2A and KT-III:- KT-1: designed to engage sub-orbital targets.
- KT-1A: upgraded KT-1
- KT-409: upgraded solid-fuelled variant
- SC-19: KT-1 variant
- KT-2: designed to engage low earth orbit (LEO) targets at altitude up to 600 km.
- KT-2A: designed to engage polar orbital targets.
- KT-III: designed to engage targets at altitude 1000 km or higher.
It is rumored that there are other versions of KT under development, but these claims have yet to be verified.