| Country: |
People's Republic of China |
| Associated Country: |
Iran, Pakistan |
| Alternate Name: |
DF-11/M-11 |
| Class: |
SRBM |
| Basing: |
Road mobile |
| Length: |
7.50 m |
| Diameter: |
0.80 m |
| Launch Weight: |
3800 kg |
| Payload: |
Single warhead, 800 kg |
| Warhead: |
Nuclear 2, 10, 20 kT, submunitions, FAE, HE, chemical |
| Propulsion: |
Single-stage solid |
| Range: |
280-350 km |
| Status: |
Operational |
| In Service: |
~1992 |
Details
The CSS-7 is a short-range, road mobile, solid propellant ballistic missile built in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). It is a member of the M family, which is a family of missiles developed specifically for export. The CSS-7, designated the M-11, was developed for sale to Pakistan as an improved, solid propellant ‘Scud B’ missile. The CSS-7 can be launched from ‘Scud B’ Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) vehicles and was likely developed to directly compete with Russian Scuds. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) adopted the missile and it is currently deployed with PRC armed forces. The CSS-7 Mod 2 was developed as an improved CSS-7 and has since replaced it within the PLA.
The tactical use of the CSS-7 is similar to the use of Iraqi ‘Scuds’ in the Gulf War. This involves using the missiles to strike at military targets in a large area or to bombard civilian areas outside the range of traditional ordinance. The original system was equipped with an inaccurate inertial guidance system that was only sufficient for use against large target such as airfields, staging areas and military bases. These missiles have insufficient payload and range for use as a strategic asset, but are capable of tactical use. It is likely intended for use against targets in India and Taiwan. In the event of an invasion of Taiwan, they will likely be deployed against crucial defense facilities.
The CSS-7 missile system can be deployed on standard PLA eight-wheeled trucks or on converted ‘Scud B’ TEL systems. The decreased size and weight of the CSS-7 over the CSS-6 makes it marginally more mobile and better suited for rapid deployment on the battlefield. The use of the CSS-7 as a tactical system enables the PLA to take advantage of the TEL vehicles range and mobility. The use of chemical weapons, fuel-air explosives (FAE), and submunitions can compensate for the poor accuracy of the system and allows for usage against individual military units.
The CSS-7 has a range of 280 km (174 miles) with 800 kg payload. The PRC has also reported a range of 300 km (186 miles) and a 500 kg payload. It is likely that the range can be set anywhere between 280 and 350 km (174 and 217 miles) by varying the payload, and the current design is simply to avoid the range limit placed by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Its warhead can be equipped with high explosives (HE), selectable nuclear yields of 2, 10 or 20 kT, submunitions, FAE, or chemical agents. It has a length of 7.5 m, a diameter of 0.8 m, and a launch weight of 3,800 kg. It uses an inertial guidance system with terminal control, resulting in an accuracy of 600 m CEP.
The development of the M family of missile systems began in 1984. The CSS-7 had its first flight test in 1990. The CSS-7 probably entered service in the PLA in 1992, with the CSS-7 Mod 2 entering in 1998. In December 2005 it was estimated that PRC had 425 missiles; that number may increase to 500. It is believed that a combined total of around 200 CSS-7 and CSS-7 Mod 2 missiles had been put into service in the PRC by 1997, with an estimated number of 300 by 2003.
Approximately 30 of the export version of the CSS-7, the M-11, were exported to Pakistan in 1993, along with a number with mobile launch systems. In 1995 there were reports that between 30-50 missiles were exported to Iran with mobile launch vehicles, though this has not yet been confirmed. In addition, Iran is believed to have been helped by the PRC to develop the capacity to maintain and build M-11 missile systems domestically. The CSS-7 Mod 2 was likely never exported, to avoid the political repercussions of blatantly violating the MTCR.(1)
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 46 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2007), 16-18.
Pakistan Test Fires Short-Range Hatf-4
November 29, 2006 :: AP :: News
Pakistan today test-launched a nuclear-capable Hatf-4 (Shaheen-1) short-range ballistic missile, reports the AP. The official Pakistani military statement did not provide details of the test, although an unnamed defense official said the missile hit its target. According to the statement, the test was “part of the ongoing exercises of Pakistan Army’s Strategic Force Command,” and “marked the culmination phase of the training exercise and validated the operational readiness of the Strategic Missile Group … equipped with Shaheen-1 Missiles.” The road-mobile Hatf-4 is believed to be an improved version of the Chinese CSS-7 (M-11), itself a modified Scud. The Hatf-4 is believed to have a range of 750 km, and is designed to destroy strategic assets such as airports, oil refineries, shipyards, ports, and factories. Today’s test came just two days after India announced its first successful interception of a ballistic missile, using a Prithvi-2 missile to shoot down a second, incoming one. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Pakistan, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: CSS-7, Hatf 4
Taiwan to Deploy Home-Grown Missile Shield
September 13, 2006 :: AFP :: News
Taiwan will introduce a new home-grown missile defense shield next year, reports the AFP. The article quotes Taiwan’s Apple Daily newspaper, which states that the shield, known as the Anti-Tactical Ballistic Missile (ATBM), is “expected to effectively counter the threat of China’s M-9 [CSS-6/DF-15] and M-11 [CSS-7/DF-11] ballistic missiles.” The system is believed to have evolved from Taiwan’s existing Tien Kung (Sky Bow) surface-to-air missile, and will eventually comprise 12 ATBM missiles batteries and an uncertain number of U.S.-made Patriot missiles and early warning radars. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, Taiwan
» Missile details: CSS-6, CSS-7
Chen: China Has 820 Missiles Aimed at Taiwan
July 17, 2006 :: AFP :: News
China has 820 ballistic and cruise missiles currently aimed at Taiwan, according to Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian. Speaking today at a forum of Japanese scholars in Taipai, Chen stated that the People’s Liberation Army had deployed 784 ballistic and 36 cruise missiles, adding that the number of missiles is rising at a rate of 120 per year.
Chen’s figures are in line with those of the Pentagon’s 2006 Report to Congress on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China, released in May 2006, which estimated the number of Chinese CSS-6 and CSS-7 short-range ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan as numbering 710-790, an increase over the previous year’s 650-730 missiles. In his statement, President Chen noted that a ten-hour Chinese bombardment could paralyze Taiwan’s communications, transportation, and command centers. He added that China has repeatedly threatened to invade Taiwan should it declare formal independence. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, Taiwan
» Missile details: CSS-6, CSS-7
Pentagon Releases 2006 Report on Military Power of China
May 25, 2006 :: News
On May 23, the Pentagon released its annual report to Congress on the military power of the People’s Republic of China. The report states that China is “pursuing strategic forces modernization to provide a credible, survivable nuclear deterrent and counterstrike capability in response to its perception of an increasingly complex nuclear security environment.” In particular, China is developing forces and concepts focused on denying adversaries the ability to deploy near its borders. The most glaring example is the fact that China is “qualitatively and quantitatively improving its long-range nuclear missile force.” The report adds that China might be revising its policy of “no first use,” meaning that it is considering the use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapons-free zones.
The report also notes that Chinese ballistic missile testing increased in 2005, and states that such an increase “indicat[es] the priority China places on strengthening this force.” It notes that “China’s expansion of missile and other military forces opposite Taiwan has continued unabated.” By the end of 2004, China had deployed 650-730 mobile CSS-6 and CSS-7 short-range ballistic missiles; by the end of 2005, this number had increased to 710-790. The new SRBMs are believed to feature increased range and accuracy. China is also modernizing its longer-range ballistic missile force “by qualitatively upgrading and/or replacing older systems with newer, more survivable ones,” including the DF-31, a new road-mobile, solid-propellant ICBM. The report notes that an extended-range DF-31A “can target most of the world, including the continental United States.” China is also deploying the JL-2 SLBM on its Jin-class (Type 094) ballistic missile submarines, and developing new methods to counter ballistic missiles defenses.
The Pentagon adds that China has acquired new Russian-made S-300P (SA-10) and S-400 (SA-20) air/missile defense interceptors, and has deployed them along the Taiwan Strait. China is also expected to deploy an extended range S-300PMU2, which would allow the People’s Liberation Army to engage targets over Taiwanese airspace. At the same time, China is developing “new concept” high energy weapon systems such as radio frequency and laser-based systems that could be used against missiles, aircraft, and command and control units. Evidence also exists that Beijing continues to pursue a new offensive anti-satellite system, which would most likely include a ground-based laser designed to damage or blind imaging satellites. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China
» Missile details: CSS-6, CSS-7
Taiwan: 800 Chinese Missiles Targeting Island by 2006
September 30, 2004 :: Spacewar.com :: News
Taiwanese Defense Minister Lee Jye said today that their Communist neighbor to the North is likely to have a staggering 800 ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan before the end of 2006. He noted, while speaking to a defense committee about a requested military budget, that China already has 600 short range missiles mostly within range of the small island nation.
Lee is quoted as saying that “The number of Dong Feng-11 and Dong Feng-15 ballistic missiles is expected to rise to 800 before the end of 2006.” The DF-11 is also know as the CSS-7; the DF-15 as the CSS-6.
Lee’s estimate is actually less than that put forward by Taiwanese vice president Annette Lu, who recently said that China’s SRBMs targeting Taiwan would reach 800 by 2005.
Lee also spoke of some 200 additional cruise missiles which China may fire during a potential attack, which he characterized as consisting of five waves, lasting a total of ten hours.
“Given (Taiwan’s) missile defensive capabilities, we are hardly able to cope with the threat.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, Taiwan
» Missile details: CSS-6, CSS-7 Mod 2, CSS-7
