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DF-41 Dongfeng-41

DF-41 Dongfeng-41 Multi-warhead intercontinental ballistic missile

Description

Technical Data

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DF 41 Dongfeng 41 ICBM InterContinenatl Ballistic Missile China Chinese army defense industry military technology 925 001

Description

The DF-41 Dongfeng-41 (also called CSS-X-10) is a Chinese-made road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile that has an estimated operational range from 12,000 km to 14,000 km. The Chinese are believed to have started the design and development of the DongFeng-41 (DF-41) in 1986. In August 2014, China has acknowledged the existence of a new intercontinental ballistic missile able to carry multiple nuclear warheads as far as the United States. China's defense ministry in January responded to reports it had tested a hypersonic missile delivery vehicle by saying any military experiments were "not targeted at any country and at any specific goals". The DF-41 seems to be similar to Russian-made Topol-M ICBM, with the NATO code name SS-27. In August 2012, Janes defense magazine announced that the 2nd Artillery Corps of Chinese strategic nuclear missile force has test-launched the missile. An unnamed U.S. official said at the time that the missile was the DF-41, and this was the first time the U.S. government confirmed the existence of the DF-41 project. 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. The DF-41 is expected to be operational in 2018-2020, the DF-41 will supplement the smaller DF-31 and DF-31A ICBMs.

Variants:

No variants at this time

Technical Data

Launch unit

The DF-41 is believed to be approximately 21.0 m in length, 2.25 m in diameter, and 80,000 kg in weight. The missile is raised to the vertical position at the back of the TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher) before launch. To provide a more stable firing platform, two large hydraulic stabilizers are lowered to the ground at the rear of the truck chassis in firing position.

Missile

The DF-41 missile uses an inertial guidance, likely with stellar updates and a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system, which provides it with an accuracy of 100-500 m CEP. The DF-41 ICBM uses a three-stage solid-fuel rocket engine and can carry a load of 1,000 kg including 10 to 12 independently targetable warheads. The three-stage solid-fuel DF-41 missile is larger than the DF-31 missile and has a range of up to 14,000 kilometers. The missile can fly at a maximum speed of Mach 25.

Guidance

The DF-41 uses an inertial navigation system with the COMPASS Chinese satellite navigation system. An inertial navigation system (INS) is a navigation aid that uses a computer, motion sensors (accelerometers) and rotation sensors (gyroscopes) to continuously calculate via dead reckoning the position, orientation, and velocity (direction and speed of movement) of a moving object without the need for external references.

Mobility

The DF-41 strategic weapons system will have a mobile launch capability providing greatly improved survivability compared with previous Chinese intercontinental missiles. The DF-41 missile is mounted on a 16-wheeled transporter-erector-launcher. This mobile launcher is capable of moving through roadless terrain and launching a missile from any point along its route.

Combat use

The DF-41 is designed as a counter to existing U.S. missile defenses intended to deal only with missile threats from North Korea and Iran. In addition to carrying nuclear payloads, the DF-41 could be modified to boost hypersonic gliders like the WU-14 across intercontinental distances. In a decade's time, a mobile hypersonic launch vehicle based on the DF-41 could deliver hypersonic gliders at targets on U.S. soil, providing a deterrent response to potential strikes on the Mainland presently conceived as part of the US's Air-Sea Battle concept.

Specifications