Pardon my ill-informed question, but how is DF-5B compared to DF-41? Which one is better?
China Ballistic Missiles and Nuclear Arms Thread
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They fulfill different roles in the PLARF.
DF-41s are mobile. They can be carried around by TEL trucks and trains so it will be hard for other states to target and destroy them in a first strike. However, the missile will have to be light enough to be transported by a truck and small enough to fit through tunnels or under bridges. Thus, DF-41 (and other road mobile missiles) are limited in size and weight. A smaller missile also has a smaller payload, which means less warheads can be carried per missile.
On the other hand, DF-5s and other silo-based missiles are not designed to be moved easily. They are larger and heavier than road-mobile missiles. So it is a lot easier for DF-5s to carry more warheads and decoys to penetrate enemy defenses. However, the extra power came with the cost of survivability. Fixed launch sites are easily located via satellite imagery and they are probably the first targets to be attacked in a large-scale nuclear exchange.
In very rough terms, you can say that DF-41s are more survivable but DF-5s are more devastating if they can be launched.
escobar
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antiterror13
Brigadier
Also important factor is that DF-5s is liquid fuelled while DF-41 is solid.
Solid fuel improves safety and reaction times. Once the missile is produced, you don't have to worry about fueling it up because the fuel is an integral part of the missile itself.
Liquid fuel engines can be throttled more easily so flight paths can be made more unpredictable. Also, liquid fuel provides higher Specific impulse than solid fuel in general so the engines are more efficient.
I'd say that solid fuel is definitely the trend for mobile ICBMs. However, larger silo-based ICBMs are often liquid fuel. Case in point, RS-28 Sarmat still uses liquid fuel despite being a very new missile.
Interception is confirmed to be successful.
Any info about the projectile? ICBM-class?
China should start deploying these ABMs out West immediately. Either neutralize the Ind*an deterrent or force them to undergo a costly expansion.
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