China Ballistic Missiles and Nuclear Arms Thread

[kw64]

Finally some rare shots of DF-31 test launch

Looks like some snap shots of a video showing the test launch of DF-31, and they look real enough to me. The missile is being cold launched and the nosecone appears to be bigger than what they usually show from illustration drawings, maybe they put decoys or even multiple warheads into the missile?

 

[mxiong]

Re: Finally some rare shots of DF-31 test launch

I think it's DF-31A w/ MIRVs, cuz DF-31 is single-warhead.

 

[kw64]

Re: Finally some rare shots of DF-31 test launch

I think it's DF-31A w/ MIRVs, cuz DF-31 is single-warhead.

I thought DF-31A are mounted on those Russian made cross-country 7-axle TELs like those:

 

[mxiong]

Re: Finally some rare shots of DF-31 test launch

I thought DF-31A are mounted on those Russian made cross-country 7-axle TELs like those:
[qimg]http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/start1/text/image/rfphotos/rs12mss25mla.jpg[/qimg]

I don't think DF-31A necessarily need a cross-country TEL since China has a far better road network than Russia for ICBMs to maneuver, just my personal opinion.

 

[rhino123]

DF-11 and DF-15 to Scud missiles

Hi,

Recently I have been reading some of data from the net regarding Scud missiles. They are actually designed in the late 70s and early 80s. These missiles have a payload of near to 1 ton... however as I look at the Chinese made DF-11 and DF-15 who have similar range as the Scud, these missiles only carry a payload of around 500kg... it is half of what the Scud could carry.

Been wondering ever since, why did the Chinese bother with designing their missiles to have such small payload. Scud is readily available worldwide (I think) plus I believe DF-11 is based on the Scud technology.

 

[SteelBird]

Re: DF-11 and DF-15 to Scud missiles

I have similar question like you; why the American missiles (like the famous Tomahawk) are smaller in size, lighter in weight and having similar payload (~500kg) but have much greater range (around 2000km), but the Dong Feng series have almost have double weight and size but having only 500 ~ 800km???

 

[rhino123]

Re: DF-11 and DF-15 to Scud missiles

I have similar question like you; why the American missiles (like the famous Tomahawk) are smaller in size, lighter in weight and having similar payload (~500kg) but have much greater range (around 2000km), but the Dong Feng series have almost have double weight and size but having only 500 ~ 800km???

When I do comparison, I do comparison on the class of the missile. Both the DF and the Scud are the same class. They are ballistic missile (short range ballistic missile), the Tomahawk is a cruise missile.

Anyway I am just feeling a bit confuse that the DF although based on Scud missiles didn't have the same payload and if that is the case, isn't it an downgrade from the scud so why bother to go through such a thing when Scud can be obtained from friendly nation such as North Korea and Pakistan to upgrade or reverse engineer the missile.

 

[RedMercury]

Re: DF-11 and DF-15 to Scud missiles

DF-15 and Scud-C only really differ by 100 kg warhead and 200 kg launch mass. I didn't look up later DF-15 variants to compare to scud-e. I suspect the difference isn't that big.

 

[Quickie]

Re: DF-11 and DF-15 to Scud missiles

When I do comparison, I do comparison on the class of the missile. Both the DF and the Scud are the same class. They are ballistic missile (short range ballistic missile), the Tomahawk is a cruise missile.

Anyway I am just feeling a bit confuse that the DF although based on Scud missiles didn't have the same payload and if that is the case, isn't it an downgrade from the scud so why bother to go through such a thing when Scud can be obtained from friendly nation such as North Korea and Pakistan to upgrade or reverse engineer the missile.

IMO, the DF series of missiles are based on solid propellants wheareas the
Scudd missiles are liquid fueled - meaning they are of a different class of missile to start with and it's not exactly practical to make a direct comparison on their payload. My impression is that the DF series are of a more recent development and that they are more advanced than the Scudd missiles. You can check out some information on them right here.

I have similar question like you; why the American missiles (like the famous Tomahawk) are smaller in size, lighter in weight and having similar payload (~500kg) but have much greater range (around 2000km), but the Dong Feng series have almost have double weight and size but having only 500 ~ 800km???

Cruise missile does really fly in the true aerodynamic sense of the
word and therefore can't be compared to a ballistic missile.

 

[rhino123]

Re: DF-11 and DF-15 to Scud missiles

Yes. They are basically difference in the type of propellant that powered them.

The reason I am posing the question is the confusion at why China would go into production of the DF-11 and DF-15 missiles if they can just reverse engineered the Scud missiles since the Scud would be cheaper than the DF series of SRBM and that the Scud and DF served similar mission suit.

Is it because the Scud had a longer preparation time before deployment and engagement, easier to intercept (I read somewhere that the DF-11 missile had a speed of Mach 6 in terminal phase thus making it almost impossible to intercept with current anti-missile systems in the world) and if the Scud is not really mobile (highly impossible), or is it just because of national pride.