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DF-17 Dongfeng-17
DF-17 or Dongfeng-17
Mobile medium-range ballistic missile with hypersonic glide vehicle - China
Description
The DF-17 or Dongfeng-17 is a Chinese-made mobile medium-range ballistic missile that is equipped with a DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) that can travel at speeds of at least Mach 5, or about 1.6 km per second. The DF-17 was developed by China’s 10th Research Institute and the existence of the new missile system was confirmed in 2014. Between January 2014 and November 2017, China conducted at least nine flight tests of the DF-17. Tests took place at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi Province. The new missile was unveiled for the first time to the public during a military parade for National Day on 1 October 2019. It is the first mobile hypersonic missile deployed in an active service unit in the world. Currently, the United States does not have any hypersonic missiles in service and Russia is not have any type of similar weapon.
DF-17 ballistic missile variants:
No variants at this time
Technical Data
Missile launcher unit |
The DF-17 missile is carried on a 10x10 military truck chassis. The missile is carried over the top of the vehicle and is erected in a vertical position to conduct firing operations.
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Missile |
The DF-17 is a solid-fueled medium-range ballistic missile mounted on the DF-ZF Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV). The missile is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads with ranges up to 2,000 km and more, achieving speeds of Mach 5, the threshold to qualify an object as hypersonic. According to U.S. intelligence, the DF-17 missile could reach a distance between 1,800 to 2,500 km. The DF-17 missile consists of two main elements including the launch vehicle and an HGV. The HGV is mounted on top of the launch vehicle, which is used to boost the HGV along the initial part of its trajectory, before performing a maneuver that will then enable the HGV to begin the glide phase of its trajectory, occurring in the upper atmosphere). The missile has a length of around 11 m and weighs around 15,000 kg. It has a Circular Error Probable of several meters.
While slower than a conventional ballistic reentry vehicle, HGVs’ higher maneuverability and lower-altitude flight make them harder to track and predict their flight path, challenging legacy ballistic missile defense systems Boost-glide weapons like the DF-17 are designed to boost to exoatmospheric altitudes with the aid of a ballistic missile booster before pulling down into the earth’s atmosphere where they might leverage aerodynamic drag at high altitudes to fly at low trajectories on the way to their targets. |
Mobility |
The DF-17 missile is mounted on 10x10 military truck chassis with two axles at the front and three axles at the rear. The truck chassis is used as TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher) that can carry, elevate to firing position and launch one or more missiles. The front of the truck is equipped with a crew cab with two doors on each side. The truck is powered by a diesel engine developing 500 to 600 hp. It can reach a top speed of 70 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 650 km. |
Accessories |
The DF-17 will be used to to counter enemy missile defense systems. The DF-17's hypersonic glide vehicle technology permits it to fly at a much lower altitude just before delivering its warhead, further frustrating attempts to detect and intercept the weapon. According to military analysis, during firing tests, the DF-17 missile showed remarkable accuracy offering the capabilities to strike targets within only a few meters. Each DF-17 unit can independently launch the missile without relying on the support of other facilities. |
Specifications
Type | Armament |
Medium-range ballistic missile with a DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle | One missile |
Country users | Range missile |
China | 1,800 to 2,500 km |
Warhead | Guidance System |
Nuclear or conventional | Hypersonic Glide Vehicle |
Propulsion | Weight missile |
Solid-fueled | 15,000 kg |
Radar and command station | Length missile |
? | 11 m |
Details View
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Pictures - Video