DF-26 | |
---|---|
Type |
IRBM ASBM |
Place of origin | China |
Service history | |
In service | 2016 [1][ citation needed] |
Used by | People's Liberation Army Rocket Force |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation |
Specifications | |
Warhead | 1,200–1,800 kg
thermonuclear weapon Conventional [2] |
Engine | Solid-fuel rocket |
Operational range | 5,000 km (3,100 mi) [1][ citation needed] |
Accuracy | 100 m (330 ft) CEP [3] |
Launch platform | Mobile launcher |
The Dong Feng-26 or DF-26 ( simplified Chinese: 东风-26; traditional Chinese: 東風-26; lit. 'East Wind-26'; NATO reporting name: CH-SS-18 [4]) is an intermediate-range ballistic missile deployed by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force and produced by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). [5]
Chinese sources claim the DF-26 has a range of over 5,000 km (3,100 mi) and may conduct precision nuclear or conventional strikes against ground and naval targets. [1][ citation needed] It is China's first conventionally-armed ballistic missile claimed to be capable of reaching Guam and the American military installations located there; [3] this has led to the missile being referred to as the "Guam Express" or "Guam Killer". [6]
The possibility that a DF-26 unit could have nuclear warheads makes it likely an adversary would target these missiles in a first strike. [7]
The missile was officially revealed at the Chinese 2015 parade commemorating the end of the Second World War. [3] In April 2018, it was officially confirmed that the DF-26 was in service with the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF). [8] The United States believes the missile was first fielded in 2016, [1][ citation needed] with 16 operational launchers in 2017. [9][ needs update]
On 26 August 2020, along with a DF-21D, a DF-26B was launched into an area of the South China Sea between Hainan and the Paracel Islands, one day after China said that an American U-2 spy plane entered a no-fly zone without its permission during a Chinese live-fire naval drill in the Bohai Sea off its north coast [10] (the US confirmed a U-2 sortie but denied it was improper. [11] [12] [13]) and came as Washington blacklisted 24 Chinese companies and targeted individuals it said were part of construction and military activities in the South China Sea. [14] [15] [16] US officials subsequently claimed that the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) had fired four medium-range ballistic missiles in total. [15] [14] The missile tests drew criticism from Japan, the Pentagon and Taiwan and led to volatility in Asian markets. [17] [15] [14] [18] As of 2019, the DF-26 has not been tested against targets at sea. [19]
{{
cite book}}
: |work=
ignored (
help)
The move came one day after China said a US U-2 spy plane entered a no-fly zone without permission during a Chinese live-fire naval drill in the Bohai Sea off its north coast.
The US air force confirmed that a U-2 surveillance aircraft had made the flight but insisted that it did nothing wrong.
A U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters that on Wednesday China launched four medium-range ballistic missiles that hit the South China Sea between Hainan Island and the Paracel Islands.
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
DF-26 | |
---|---|
Type |
IRBM ASBM |
Place of origin | China |
Service history | |
In service | 2016 [1][ citation needed] |
Used by | People's Liberation Army Rocket Force |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation |
Specifications | |
Warhead | 1,200–1,800 kg
thermonuclear weapon Conventional [2] |
Engine | Solid-fuel rocket |
Operational range | 5,000 km (3,100 mi) [1][ citation needed] |
Accuracy | 100 m (330 ft) CEP [3] |
Launch platform | Mobile launcher |
The Dong Feng-26 or DF-26 ( simplified Chinese: 东风-26; traditional Chinese: 東風-26; lit. 'East Wind-26'; NATO reporting name: CH-SS-18 [4]) is an intermediate-range ballistic missile deployed by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force and produced by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). [5]
Chinese sources claim the DF-26 has a range of over 5,000 km (3,100 mi) and may conduct precision nuclear or conventional strikes against ground and naval targets. [1][ citation needed] It is China's first conventionally-armed ballistic missile claimed to be capable of reaching Guam and the American military installations located there; [3] this has led to the missile being referred to as the "Guam Express" or "Guam Killer". [6]
The possibility that a DF-26 unit could have nuclear warheads makes it likely an adversary would target these missiles in a first strike. [7]
The missile was officially revealed at the Chinese 2015 parade commemorating the end of the Second World War. [3] In April 2018, it was officially confirmed that the DF-26 was in service with the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF). [8] The United States believes the missile was first fielded in 2016, [1][ citation needed] with 16 operational launchers in 2017. [9][ needs update]
On 26 August 2020, along with a DF-21D, a DF-26B was launched into an area of the South China Sea between Hainan and the Paracel Islands, one day after China said that an American U-2 spy plane entered a no-fly zone without its permission during a Chinese live-fire naval drill in the Bohai Sea off its north coast [10] (the US confirmed a U-2 sortie but denied it was improper. [11] [12] [13]) and came as Washington blacklisted 24 Chinese companies and targeted individuals it said were part of construction and military activities in the South China Sea. [14] [15] [16] US officials subsequently claimed that the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) had fired four medium-range ballistic missiles in total. [15] [14] The missile tests drew criticism from Japan, the Pentagon and Taiwan and led to volatility in Asian markets. [17] [15] [14] [18] As of 2019, the DF-26 has not been tested against targets at sea. [19]
{{
cite book}}
: |work=
ignored (
help)
The move came one day after China said a US U-2 spy plane entered a no-fly zone without permission during a Chinese live-fire naval drill in the Bohai Sea off its north coast.
The US air force confirmed that a U-2 surveillance aircraft had made the flight but insisted that it did nothing wrong.
A U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters that on Wednesday China launched four medium-range ballistic missiles that hit the South China Sea between Hainan Island and the Paracel Islands.
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)