| Country: |
People's Republic of China |
| Associated Country: |
Iran |
| Class: |
MRBM |
| Basing: |
Road mobile |
| Payload: |
Single warhead, 1000 or 2000 kg |
| Warhead: |
HE |
| Propulsion: |
2 stage solid |
| Range: |
2500-3000 km |
| Status: |
Development |
| In Service: |
Exp. 2010 |
Details
The DF-25 is a medium-range, road mobile, solid propellant ballistic missile. It is a new tactical system to be deployed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). It is believed that the DF-25 system consists of the first two stages of the DF-31 (CSS-9). The design of the missile suggests that it is most likely being developed for export.
The DF-25 is capable of deployment against strategic targets, though it is fundamentally a tactical system. The large payload allows it to deploy a sizable quantity of high explosives (HE) against targets with a reasonable degree of accuracy. It is fully capable of crippling airports, military bases, manufacturing complexes and defense facilities. In this manner it can successfully be deployed on a strategic and tactical level against both civilian and military targets. Its cost would not justify use for general bombardment, but it could easily be used to destroy civilian support facilities such as power plants, water purification centers, etc., and undermine the morale of the opposing population. The use of submunitions or chemical agents would make the DF-25 effective against military units, particularly staging areas and troop concentrations.
The DF-25 will likely be deployed by the PRC against neighboring countries. Its range is sufficient to strike much of India and Russia, and it can easily be used to apply pressure against countries which oppose PRC expansion. The PRC has historically used ballistic missiles to threaten countries which dispute PRC claims to resource areas, and the DF-25 will likely be used in this fashion as well. However, the DF-25 will most likely also be exported, evidenced by its development without a nuclear warhead.
Little information is available on the DF-25. It is believed that the system has a range of 1,700 km (1056 miles) with a payload of 2,000 kg. It can reportedly be equipped with conventional HE, submunitions and chemical agents. The missile uses the first two-stages of the CSS-9, making it a two-stage solid propellant engine. It will probably use an inertial guidance system coupled with a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system, likely giving it an accuracy in the area of 100-300 m CEP. A DF-25 Mod 2 exists with a range of 2,500 km (1553 miles) and a payload of 1,000 kg.
The DF-25 was originally planned to enter service in 2000. However, reports in 1996 indicate that the development was halted. It is believed it underwent temporary delay due to problems with producing the solid propellant motors or so the PRC could focus on upgrading the CSS-5 missile systems. Recent reports indicate that the program was restarted and is expected to enter service in 2010. Reports from 1993 indicate that the development was done jointly with Iran, which supports the idea of the development being undergone for the purpose of export. Saudia Arabia may be offered this model. (1)
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 46 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2007), 34.
