China Ballistic Missiles and Nuclear Arms Thread

[bustead]

Estimation of weapon grade fissile materials

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China's stockpile of fissile materials is estimated to include 14±3 tonnes of HEU and 2.9±0.6 tonnes of weapon-grade plutonium.

I believe that this has been posted before but anyway, the HEU stockpile alone can be used to build more than 1000 warheads.

 

[ChongqingHotPot92]

Nuclear stock estimation by Federation of American Scientist

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View attachment 77937

I thought the DF-31 and DF-41 series use warheads weighing 470-500 kg and have yields around 650 kt? The 200-300 kt warhead was for the DF-21 and JL-2. Also DF-41 could reach a range of 14,000 km if carrying less warheads than the maximum throw weight.

 

[bustead]

I thought the DF-31 and DF-41 series use warheads weighing 470-500 kg and have yields around 650 kt? The 200-300 kt warhead was for the DF-21 and JL-2. Also DF-41 could reach a range of 14,000 km if carrying less warheads than the maximum throw weight.

IIRC DF-31's 535 warhead only weights around 400kg. Also newer 575 warheads are around 120kg and have a yield of ~150kt.

 

[ZeEa5KPul]

IIRC DF-31's 535 warhead only weights around 400kg. Also newer 575 warheads are around 120kg and have a yield of ~150kt.

What are the designations of China's warheads?

 

[bustead]

What are the designations of China's warheads?

DF-5 warheads: 506
DF-31 warheads: 535
New miniaturized warheads for cruise missiles/small MIRVs: 575

 

[iantsai]

I don't think any member of sinodefenceforum could have the reliable source of accurate number of China's fissile weapon devices and the mass of each device.

 

[Annihilation98]

DF-5 warheads: 506
DF-31 warheads: 535
New miniaturized warheads for cruise missiles/small MIRVs: 575

Where did you get that info?

 

[bustead]

Where did you get that info?

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[ChongqingHotPot92]

1-3 kg of Pu-239 in its primary

We know that the primary for the DF-31 (maybe DF-41 as well) warhead has a 90kt yield (based on tests in the late 80s and early 90s). How many kg of Pu-239 would be needed for a 90kt implosion primary (disco ball)?

 

[ChongqingHotPot92]

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How credible?

Also, the 150kt yield warhead seem to be a bit underpowered against North American cities (counter-value attacks, God forbid), which are usually spread out with powerful decision-makers usually living in their suburban mansions (away from the downtown ground zeros).