DF-41
| DF-41 | |
|---|---|
| Type | ICBM (under development) |
| Place of origin | People's Republic of China |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | ~63,500 kilograms (140,000 lb) |
| Length | ~16.5 metres (54 ft) |
| Diameter | ~2.25 m (7 ft 5 in) |
| Warhead | Nuclear 10 MIRVs (single 1 Mt or MIRV with selectable 20, 90, 150, 250 kt) |
|
| |
| Engine | Three-stage solid propellant |
Operational range | ~12,000–14,000 kilometres (7,500–8,700 mi) |
| Speed | Mach 25[1] |
Guidance system | Inertial with COMPASS |
Launch platform | Silo, road-mobile TEL |
The Dongfeng-41 (DF-41, CSS-X-10) (Chinese: 东风-41; literally "East Wind-41"), is a possible Chinese nuclear solid-fueled road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile. There are conflicting reports over whether the missile has been tested yet.
It has a rumoured operational range of between 12,000 km[2] to 14,000 km,[3] depending on payload. This would make the DF-41 the world's longest ranged missile, surpassing the range of the US LGM-30 Minuteman which has a reported range of 13,000 km.[4] It is believed to have a top speed of Mach 25,[1] be capable of MIRV delivery (up to 10)[2] and can cover any position on the planet. The project started in 1986,[2] and may now be coupled with the JL-2 program.
Some military experts had expected that it could be unveiled at the 2009 National Parade.[5] However, rehearsals of the military parade did not feature this missile. It was incorrectly anticipated that the DF-41 would be delivered to the Second Artillery around the year 2010.[2][6] However Missilethreat.com reports that it is unclear if the program was restarted after suspension in 2002.[7] Air Power Australia reports that the DF-41 was cancelled pre-2000, with the technology developed transferred to the DF-31A.[8][2]
American conservative website Washington Free Beacon reported that the DF-41 had its first flight test on July 24, 2012.[9] However the U.S. Department of Defense made no reference to this claimed test in its 2013 report to Congress.[10]
In April 2013, Taiwan's National Security Bureau head reported to the National Assembly that the DF-41 was still in development, and not yet deployed.[11]
The U.S. Department of Defense in its 2013 report to Congress on China's military developments made no explicit mention of the DF-41, but did state that "China may also be developing a new road-mobile ICBM, possibly capable of carrying a multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV)", which may refer to the DF-41.[10]
Later in 2013 the Washington Free Beacon again reported that the second launch test took place on December 13, 2013 from the Wuzhai missile launch center in Shanxi province to an impact range in western China.[12]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.armedforces-int.com/news/china-reports-df-41-icbm-test-launch.html
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "DF-41 (CSS-X-10) (China) - Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems". Janes.com. 2009-07-02. Archived from the original on 2011-03-26.
- ↑ http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/DF-41ChinasanswertotheUSBMDefforts_ArjunSubramaniam_121112
- ↑ http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/mineman3.htm
- ↑ "Five types of missiles to debut on National Day_English_Xinhua". News.xinhuanet.com. 2009-09-02. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
- ↑ John Pike. "DF-41 - China Nuclear Forces". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
- ↑ "DF-41 (CSS-X-10)". Missilethreat.com. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- ↑ Sean O'Connor (April 2012). "PLA Ballistic Missiles". Air Power Australia. APA-TR-2010-0802. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- ↑ China test fires new long-range missile | Washington Free Beacon
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2013". Office of the Secretary of Defense (U.S. Department of Defense): 6. 2013. http://www.defense.gov/pubs/2013_china_report_final.pdf. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- ↑ Rogge Chen and Sofia Wu (15 April 2013). "China yet to deploy 094 sub, JL-2 & DF-41 missiles: security head". Focus Taiwan (Central News Agency). Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ↑ http://freebeacon.com/china-conducts-second-flight-test-of-new-long-range-missile/
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