China ICBM/SLBM, nuclear arms thread

[dingyibvs]

Is it just me or did the Chinese language CCTV broadcast describe the DF-31 and DF-61 as IRBMs? I think it also described DF-31BJ as mobile and the DF-61 as land base?

 

[Kalec]

Here comes with high resolution image from Xinhua.

Almost same as DF-41. Canister at D 2.4m x L 22.4m.




DF-31BJ at D 2.6m x L 19.2m (L 18.5m excluding the gas generator like device at its rear)

Note that canister looks slimmer but longer from this angle every time, it applies to last parade as well but still DF-31BJ looks larger in diameter meanwhile being shorter in length.

 

[Totoro]

But are we sure 31bj is not to be hot launched from silos?

Df41 canister should definitely have a missile tube diameter worth of gas module at the bottom, translating to actual missile length of 19 something meters?

 

[maddogy4645]

So what is DF51 then? Is it the alleged Midgetman-like ICBM?

 

[CVNisCV]

 

[Kalec]

View attachment 159863
Here comes with high resolution image from Xinhua.

Almost same as DF-41. Canister at D 2.4m x L 22.4m.

View attachment 159873


DF-31BJ at D 2.6m x L 19.2m (L 18.5m excluding the gas generator like device at its rear)

Note that canister looks slimmer but longer from this angle every time, it applies to last parade as well but still DF-31BJ looks larger in diameter meanwhile being shorter in length.

In all seriousness, I find it very confusing that both visually or logically that DF-41 and DF-61 are almost the same thing in every aspect, the only different I spotted so far that their codenames were painted in different area on their bodies.

Between DF-41 and DF-61, I can imagine the difference is better carbon fiber and propellant with perhaps different warhead layout however the reason behind it remains unknown.

Meanwhile DF-31B looks completely different than DF-31AG in diameter of canister, the commentator goes as vague as possible on it and one of the interesting points is that the official commentator labels "DF-31" as new missile after others.

JingLei-1 air-based long-range missile, JuLang-3 submarine-launched intercontinental missile, DongFeng-61 land-based intercontinental missile, and new type DongFeng-31 land-based intercontinental missile

We can go further on the line once we have more clues about

1. What exactly DF-31B contains in its canister? Missile with Warhead? Only missile? Only booster without PBV?
2. What makes them change DF-41 to DF-61, instead of DF-41A?
3. Where did DF-51 go?

 

[CR400BF5033]

My personal thought: the relationship between DF-31BJ and DF-31 is similar to Tu-22M3 and Tu-22, or destroyer type 051C and 051; they have little similarity but their names. The diameter is a decisive factor

 

[hero]

DF-51 probably skipped because the pronunciation conflicting with DF-5

 

[Kalec]

For the DF-5C, it has a huge warhead with D~1.4m L~3.2m, which is almost impossible to find a similar counterpart among American RV.

If it truly belongs to the FOBS system as speculated by Chinese military bloggers, a more noteworthy issue is that the tail of the reentry vehicle lacks nozzles similar to those of its Soviet counterparts. Ofc, this might be because this RV is merely for display purposes as mock up and not a genuine RV.

Through a simple comparison of dimensions, if it is a traditional modern RV (means it no longer uses a metal shell similar to the DF-5A but switches to a carbon shell), and its yield could reach 9-10 Mt. If it is a warhead with PBV and reentry capabilities, similar to FOBS, the yield might be between 3-5 Mt.

 

[antiterror13]

Do you think it's possible to fit multiple warheads inside it, even though I know the shape is already conical