DF-31 DF-31A CSS-9 DF-31B ICBM intercontinental ballistic missile | China Chinese army missile systems vehicles | Chinese China army military equipment armoured UK

: 06 January 2019

DF-31 / DF-31A (CSS-9) / DF-31B

long-range road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile

Description

Technical Data

Specifications

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DF-31 DF-31A CSS-9 DF-31B long-range road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile technical data sheet specifications pictures information description intelligence photos images video identification China Chinese army defense industry military technology

Description

The Dong Feng 31 DF-31 (NATO reporting name CSS-9) is a long-range, road-mobile, three stages, solid propellant intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the Dongfeng missile series developed by the People's Republic of China. The country started the development in in the mid-1980s as the successor to of the DF-4 Intercontinental ballistic missile. The DF-31 missile was displayed for the first time in 1999, at the National Day Parade. In October 2014, China’s military has conducted the first flight test of a new variant of one of its road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles, DF-31B. The new DF-31B is the latest addition to China’s rapidly growing nuclear missile arsenal that includes older silo-based missiles and five other road-mobile missiles. The 2010 version of the U.S. Department of Defense report suggests that, as of August 2010, around 30 DF-31 and DF-31A missiles were operational, representing an increase of 5-10 DF-31A missiles since the 2009 report.

Variants:

- DF-31A: improved variant of the DF-31 called the DF-31A. This upgraded missile has a reported range of 11,200 km, and possibly MIRV capability to hold 3 warheads each capable of a 20–150 kt yield, and penetration and decoy aids to complicate missile defense efforts
- DF-31B: improved variant of the DF-31 called the DF-31B

Technical Data

Launch unit

The missile of the DF-31 is carried in a large canister that completely enclosed the missile mounted on a eight wheels trailer. The DF-31 has also been noted as being launched from a TEL which was not erected in a fully vertical orientation. This could imply that the missile must be aligned with its target prior to launch.

Missile

The DF-31 is a three stage solid-propellant missile equipped with an inertial navigation system. The DF-31 missile is believed to have a length of 13.0 m, a diameter of 2.25 m, and a launch weight of 42,000 kg. The warhead assembly is expected to have a payload of 1,050 to 1,750 kg with a single 1 MT nuclear warhead, or three to four MIRV units with varying possible yields of 20, 90, or 150 kT and penetration aids. The missile probably employs a variety of navigation aids, including stellar and GPS systems. While accuracy is expected to be around 300 m CEP, several reports have suggested that a Silo-launched missile would have an accuracy of 100 m CEP and a TEL-launched missile would have an accuracy of 150 m CEP. The range of the DF-31 missile is estimated to be between 8,000 and 11,700 kilometers, giving China effective second-strike nuclear capability against the United States.

Guidance

The DF-31 uses an inertial navigation system with stellar and GPS systems.

Mobility

The DF-31 missile is mounted on HY4430 semi-trailers towed by a ZX-TJ 2000 turbocharged diesel 8 x 8 truck tractor. The truck tractor was designed especially for travel over rugged terrain and in difficult road conditions. US intelligence has also photographed a Belarussian six-axle mobile missile TEL (transporter-erector launcher) at the DF-31 production facility in Nanyuan, near Beijing.

Combat Use

The DF-31 has a range of about 8.000 km, sufficient to hit targets along the entire West Coast of the United States and in several northern Rocky Mountain states. The DF-31 limited-range ICBM will give China a major strike capability that will be difficult to counterattack at any stage of its operation, from pre-flight mobile operations through terminal flight phases.

Specifications