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The DF-26 is an intermediate-range ballistic missile of the Chinese-made Dongfeng (DF) missile family produced by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The DF-26 was unveiled for the first time to the public during the military parade of September 3, 2015 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, its existence was confirmed in the mid-2010s but it had already been in service for several years. The DF-26 is based on the DF-21 missile and has range of about 3,500 - 4,000 km is roughly the distance required for China to take out the US island territory and strategic naval base. The People's Liberation Army's DF-26 missile, as an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), is unmatched in the world, the Beijing-based Sina Military Network claimed in a report.
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| Missile Launch Unit |
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The DF-26 intermediate-range missile system is carried on a 12 wheeled road-mobile Taian TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher) truck, making it difficult for U.S. intelligence assets to find and track – and counter with US sea-based Aegis missile defenses or, as on Guam, with long-range THAAD anti-missile interceptors. In firing position, the missile is erected at the rear of the vehicle and two hydraulic jacks located at the rear of the truck chassis are lowered to the ground.
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| Missiles |
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The DF-26 intermediate-range missile can carry two types of nuclear warhead and several types of conventional warhead of 1,200 to 1,800 kg and even maneuverable anti-ship and hypersonic warheads. The DF-26 is a three-stages solid-fuel missile which has a maximum range from 3,000 to 4,000 km. According Chinese source, the DF-26 can reach a target at a maximum range of 5,000 km, which means it can strike U.S. military bases in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean or Guam in the Asia-Pacific. It measures 14 meters long with a diameter of 1.4 m and a launch weight of 20 tons. According to some military experts, the nose of the missile could incorporate terminal guidance systems. A terminally guided warhead could imply that the DF-26 will be used as an anti-ship weapon in the future. According the Chinese missile technology expert Yang Chengjun, the DF-26 has adopted a lot of brand new IT, measuring and guidance technologies to enable it to have the capabilities to hit various static and moving targets.
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| Mobility |
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The DF-26 intermediate-range missile is carried on a six-axle Taian truck TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher) model HTF5680A1. The truck is fitted at the front with a double-cab with two doors on each side and powerpack. The truck can carried a total of 5 military personnel.
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| Combat use |
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The DF-26 intermediate-range missile can perform medium-to-long-range precision attack on both land and large-to-medium-sized maritime targets. Its modular features allow for the use of several types of warheads, including two types of nuclear re-entry vehicles, and several conventional warheads each with differing destructive capabilities, such as area attacks for use against airfields and ports, ground penetrators for buried targets, and fuel-air explosives for use against electronic targets. Penetration warheads would be used to damage area type targets such as airfields and ports, piercing and exploding warheads would be used to destroy hardened targets such as bunkers and cave depots, and fuel-air explosive warheads would be used against electromagnetic targets such as command organizations and computer centers. Such a “one carrier, many warheads” design enables the DF-26 to execute long and medium-range precise strikes against many kinds of targets. Compared with silo launched and site launched ballistic missiles, another distinct characteristic of the DF-26 is that it can be launched on the move with no support. It can move fast, and it has no strict demands for where it is launched. So that is helpful to movement of missile forces all over and in concealment, and it is helpful to the rapid deployment, rapid launch, and rapid displacement of combat elements. That means a boost to the missile force’s survivability and to its attack ability. Against time-sensitive targets such as surface ships in particular, it [the DF-26] can attack at the last minute as soon as information on a ship’s movement is acquired, meaning the ship cannot get away. The nose of the DF-26 missile could incorporate a terminal guidance system to fulfill the ASBM role, demonstrating China's ability to threaten U.S. aircraft carriers at twice the range of the DF-21D. During the parade of September 3, 2015, the announcer said "the DF-26 was capable of targeting “medium-size ships thanks to an anti-ship warhead.".
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| Specifications |
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Type
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Intermediate-range ballistic missile
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Country users
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China
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Warhead
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| nuclear warhead and several types of conventional warhead 1,200 to 1,800 kg |
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Propulsion
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Three-stages solid-fuel missile
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Armament
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One missile
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Range missile
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3,000 to 4,000 km maximum (maybe 5,000 km)
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Guidance system
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new IT, measuring and guidance technologies
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Radar and command station
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Command and control vehicle
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