DF-26
| DF-26 | |
|---|---|
 DF-26 missile as seen after the military parade on September 3, 2015. | |
| Type | IRBM |
| Place of origin | China |
| Service history | |
| Used by | People's Liberation Army Rocket Force |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 20 tons (40,000 lb (18,000 kg))[1] |
| Length | 14 m (46 ft)[1] |
| Diameter | 1.4 m (4.6 ft)[1] |
| Warhead | 1,200–1,800 kg (2,600–4,000 lb)[1] |
|
| |
| Engine | Solid fueled |
Operational range |
3,000–3,500–4,000 km (1,900–2,200–2,500 mi) (estimated) 5,000 km (3,100 mi) (claimed)[1][2][3] |
Launch platform | Mobile launcher |
The Dong-Feng 26 (DF-26, Chinese: 东风-26) is a Dong Feng-series missile that is a development of the DF-21, with range increased to 3,000–5,000 km (1,900–3,100 mi), making it an intermediate-range ballistic missile.[4][5] The U.S. Department of Defense in its 2013 report to Congress on China's military developments made no mention of the DF-26 as a missile in service.[6] The missile was first shown to the public during the parade in Beijing celebrating 70 years since the end of World War II on 3 September 2015, during which it was confirmed that the DF-26 is also an anti-ship ballistic missile able to attack medium to large naval vessels.[7][8]
The DF-26's range enables it to reach Guam and threaten American military installations on the island, particularly Anderson Air Force Base, earning it the nickname of "Guam Killer;" the name is a bit of a misnomer since previous Chinese ballistic missiles could reach Guam, but the DF-26 is the first armed with a conventional rather than nuclear warhead. It has three stages and is launched from a 12×12 wheeled TEL, combining mobility and hidden underground facilities to fire on short notice and hinder countering. The Pentagon has been aware of the missile since at least 2007. Its lengthy nose cone 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.[9][10]
Notes and references
- 1 2 3 4 5 DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile - Armyrecognition.com
- ↑ "俄媒称中国大阅兵或首次展示4款新型导弹". 参考消息. 2015-08-27. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
- ↑ "美媒：中国火箭军掌控核武 包括潜射导弹". 参考消息. 2016-01-18. Retrieved 2016-01-18.
- ↑ Richard D Fisher Jr, James Hardy (30 August 2015). "China previews new ballistic missiles in practices for 3 September parade". Jane's Defence Weekly (IHS). Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ↑ "China Produces A Guam Killer". Missile Threat.
- ↑ Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China (PDF). Office of the Secretary of Defense (Report) (U.S. Department of Defense). 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
The DF-21D has a range exceeding 1,500 km and is armed with a maneuverable warhead.
- ↑ http://www.janes.com/article/54029/china-showcases-new-weapon-systems-at-3-september-parade
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC8jyxbBfRM
- ↑ China's New Ballistic Missile Puts Guam in the Crosshairs - Popularmechanics.com, 2 September 2015
- ↑ China's Parade Puts US Navy on Notice - Defensenews.com, 3 September 2015
