schlieffen
New Member
Thank for your reply.
Will the new strategic missile be mirv capable?
Are there project to replace the DF-5 by a new silo-based missile?
What about JL-2A/3 and hypersonic weapon development??
I've so many questions for you
I think it is mostly likely MIRV capable.
We already know the highest-yield (and heaviest) warhead still been produced in China is the rumoured W88 clone. DF-31A is capable to deliver that warhead to 11000+ km range, which covers much of continental America. It makes no sense to develop a heavier missile without much larger throw weight. And what it is supposed to carry? It’s not like China has a heavier warhead in its inventory or needs a longer range. More decoy warheads & penetration aids for sure, but I doubt that alone could justify the development of a new missile. Of course whether it would be operationally deployed with MIRV is an entirely different question.
The technology certainly exists. DF-5B is MIRV-capable. I’m always intrigued that the American intelligence insists DF-5B is not yet deployed with multiply warheads. They said the CSS-4 Mod 2 hasn’t been tested with multiply warheads, which might be true. Given the large number of multiple satellite launches made in the last few years, some demonstrated sophisticated orbital tuning/multi-payload delivery, maybe Chinese engineers considered the technology sufficiently mature and an all-up test is not necessary. Or maybe the American intelligence knows otherwise and just don’t want to tell the general public and laymen in the congress. I’m pretty sure they prepared more interesting reports for those closed-door congress sessions.
There are clues of further DF-5 improvements/upgrades so I think this venerable missile won’t be retired anytime soon, and the replacement is probably a very long-term thing.
