DF-5

The Dongfeng 5 (simplified Chinese: 东风-5; traditional Chinese: 東風-5; pinyin: Dōng Fēng Wǔ; lit. 'East Wind 5') or DF-5 is a second-generation two stage Chinese intercontinental ballistic missile. It has a length of 38.5 m and a diameter of 4.08 m. It weighs in at 312,500 kilograms and it has an estimated range of 7,000 to 10,000 kilometers. The DF-5 had its first flight in 1971 and was in operational service 10 years later. One of the limitations of the missile is that it takes between 30 and 60 minutes to fuel.[5] The DF-5 is due to be replaced by the solid-fuelled DF-41.[7] Around 2015, the newest variant DF-5B force are believed to have received a MIRV upgrade; according to Business Insider, with DF-5B: "China has the ability to deliver nuclear warheads nearly anywhere on earth (outside of South America, at least)".[8]

For the locomotive, see China Railways DF5.
DF-5/CSS-4
Upper stage of the DF-5B, showing its redesigned nosecone to accommodate multiple reentry vehicles.
TypeICBM
Place of originPeople's Republic of China
Service history
In service1981[1]–present
Used byPeople's Liberation Army Rocket Force
Production history
ManufacturerFactory 211 (Capital Astronautics Machinery Co.)
Specifications
Mass312.5 tonnes (312,500 kg)
Length38.5 m (126 ft 4 in)
Diameter4.08 m (13 ft 5 in)
WarheadOne (DF-5 & DF-5A)
MIRV (12 warheads) (DF-5B)[2][3]
MIRV (DF-5C)[4]
Blast yield5–20 Mt (non-MIRV warhead) or 12 x 1 Mt (MIRVs)[1]
EngineTwo-stage Liquid-propellant rocket
Operational
range
13,000–16,000 km (8,100–9,900 mi)[5]
Maximum speed Mach 22 (26,950 km/h; 16,745 mph; 7.486 km/s)
Guidance
system
Inertial + on-board computers [6]
Accuracy~800 m (2,600 ft) CEP
Launch
platform
Silo

History
DF 5

The DF-5 was designed under the leadership of Tu Shou'e [屠守锷]] at the China Academy of Launch Technology (CALT); Li Xu'e [李绪鄂] served as deputy chief designer. The missile was produced at the China's Factory 211 (Capital Astronautics Co. [首都航天机械公司], also known as the Capital Machine Factory [首都机械厂]).

The DF-5 was first flight tested in 1971, with final tests into the Pacific Ocean in May 1980.[9] Two silo-based missiles were put into 'trial operational deployment' in 1981.[9] It had a range of 10,000 to 13,000 km which allowed it to target western portions of the United States. Beginning in 1986 the Chinese started developing the improved DF-5A,[9] with range increased to over 15,000 km and a more accurate guidance system. The DF-5A upgrade increased the throw-weight of the system from 7,000 kg to 10,200 kg.

Deployment
DF-5 range (2007 estimation)
DF-5 (CSS-4) range (2021 estimation)

As with the DF-4, initially the DF-5 was stored in a horizontal position in tunnels under high mountains, and are launched immediately outside the mouth of the tunnel. The missiles must be moved into the open and fueled prior to firing, an operational mode dubbed chu men fang pao (firing a cannon outdoors), with the fueling operation apparently requiring about two hours. The initial deployment of a pair of DF-5s in silos in Central China was completed in 1981. That portion of the DF-5A force that is deployed in silos could be maintained in a ready-to-fire status. In order to enhance the survivability of these missiles, China has constructed a large number of decoy silos which consist of shallow holes excavations with headworks that resemble operational silos.

According to the US National Air and Space Intelligence Center, as of 1998 the deployed DF-5 force consisted of "about 25" missiles. From early 1999 to 2008 the total deployed DF-5 force was generally estimated at about 20 missiles.[10] As of 2017, there were about 20 operational DF-5 launchers.[11]

Variants

DF-5B

According to a 2015 US report, Business Insider, Jane's Defence Weekly, and The Diplomat, China had begun to MIRV its DF-5s.[2][3][12][13][14] It is believed about that twelve warheads can be placed on each MIRVed missile.[13][15][16][3]

An improved version, named DF-5B, was shown to the public during the parade in Beijing celebrating 70 years since the end of World War II on 3 September 2015.[17][18] By that time, the DoD estimated China of having approximately 83 DF-5 ICBMs, with 50 of them being DF-5B variants containing MIRVs. Although China has had the technology to field MIRV warheads for decades, they have only recently begun to do so, likely in response to the development of the American ballistic missile defense system.[19] The DF-5B supposedly has an increased throw weight of 8000 kg.

DF-5C

China has begun testing a new variant of a DF-5 missile, which has a MIRV with 12 nuclear warheads. It is called the DF-5C.[20][21][22]

  • First stage of the DF-5B
    First stage of the DF-5B
  • Another view of the first stage
    Another view of the first stage

Operators

See also

References
  1. The Federation of American Scientists & The Natural Resources Defense Council Chinese Nuclear Forces and U.S. Nuclear War Planning p. 202
  2. Diplomat, Franz-Stefan Gady, The. "Revealed: China for the First Time Publicly Displays 'Guam Killer' Missile".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. "Janes | Latest defence and security news".
  4. "China Tests Missile With 10 Warheads". 31 January 2017.
  5. "DF-5". Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  6. "大国重器：东风5洲际导弹". 腾讯网. 2015-09-01. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
  7. China Stumbles Forward - Strategypage.com, December 19, 2012
  8. Bender, Jeremy (3 September 2015). "China previewed its new ballistic missiles during a practice military parade".
  9. John Wilson Lewis and Hua Di (Fall 1992). "China's Ballistic Missile Programs" (PDF). International Security. 17 (2). doi:10.2307/2539167. JSTOR 2539167. S2CID 153900455. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  10. Military Power of the People's Republic of China 2008 (PDF), Office of the Secretary of Defense, p. 24 (pp34 of PDF)
  11. Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat (Report). Defense Intelligence Ballistic Missile Analysis Committee. June 2017. p. 29. NASIC-1031-0985-17. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  12. China previewed its new ballistic missiles during a practice military parade. Business Insider. 3 September 2015.
  13. "China Buys Into Multiple Warheads". New York Times. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  14. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-05-14. Retrieved 2015-06-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. David Wright (20 May 2015). "China and MIRVed Warheads". Union of Concerned Scientists. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  16. Fisher, Richard. "China Increases Its Missile Forces While Opposing U.S. Missile Defense".
  17. WORLD TV (3 September 2015). "CHINA SHOWS OFF ITS MILITARY POWER ON V-DAY 70TH PARADE; Strategic Strikes Module Displays MISSILES" – via YouTube.
  18. "Janes | Latest defence and security news".
  19. China shows off seven ballistic missiles - Shephardmedia.com, 3 September 2015
  20. China Tests Missile With 10 Warheads The Washington Free Beacon. 31 January 2017.
  21. China Tests Long-Range Missile With 10 Warheads Amid Tensions With Trump Administration Foxtrott Alpha. 31 January 2017.
  22. China’s Defense Ministry Confirms Multi-Warhead Missile Test The Washington Free Beacon. 10 February 2017.
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