DF-4

For the locomotive, see China Railways DF4.
DF-4/CSS-3
TypeICBM
Place of originPeople's Republic of China
Service history
In service1975/1976[1][2]–2023
Used byPLA Rocket Force
Production history
ManufacturerFactory 211 (Capital Astronautics Co.)
Unit cost?
Specifications
Mass82,000 kg
Length28.05 m
Diameter2.25 m
WarheadOne,[1] or three (DF-4A)[3][4]
Blast yield3.3 Mt[1]
EngineLiquid fueled
Operational
range
5,500 km[5][6]
Maximum speed?
Guidance
system
Astro-inertial guidance
Accuracy1.5 km

The Dongfeng 4 (Chinese: 东风-4; pinyin: Dōng Fēng Sì; lit. 'East Wind 4') or DF-4 (also known as the CSS-3) is a first-generation two-stage liquid-fuelled Chinese intercontinental ballistic missile.[7] It was estimated to be deployed in limited numbers in underground silos beginning in the late 1970s and retired around 2023,[8] deploying around 10 to 15 launchers in the late 2010s.[9] The yield of its nuclear warhead was estimated at 3.5 megatons.[10]: 106 

The DF-4's rocket propellant is the hypergolic mixture of nitric acid and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine. The DF-4 has a takeoff thrust of 1,224.00 kN, a takeoff weight of 82000 kg, a diameter of 2.25 m, a length of 28.05 m and a fin span of 2.74 m. The range of the DF-4, equipped with a 2,190 kg nuclear warhead with a 3.5 megaton yield, was nominally 5,500 km. This gives it sufficient range to strike targets as far away as Russia, India, and American bases in the Pacific.[11] It was the first Chinese missile capable of striking the Soviet capital city of Moscow and US assets on Guam.[10]: 210  The missile uses an inertial guidance system, resulting in a large CEP of 1,500 meters.

The nuclear warhead for the DF-4, named "512, was tested in China's tenth, eleventh, and twelfth nuclear tests.[10]: 106 

History

The decision to develop the DF-4 was made in 1965[12] in response to the U.S. ballistic missile submarine patrols that began operating out of Guam. The missile's designer has been variously identified as Ren Xinmin or Tu Shou'e [屠守锷], and it was produced at Factory 211 (Capital Astronautics Co. [首都航天机械公司], also known as Capital Machine Shop [首都机械厂]).

In 1972 US intelligence estimated an IOC for this system as being expected in 1974 or 1975. Deployment actually began in 1975–76, but only four DF-4s were believed to be in place by 1984.[13]

There were two versions of the missile developed,[14] one version housed in caves or garages to be rolled out on launch and another silo based version.

The US DoD estimates that the missile will continue to serve as a regional deterrence instrument until they can be replaced by the DF-31.[15] This will be a significant capability gain for the Second Artillery Corps. The DF-31A has a range of 11,700 kilometers (as opposed to just 7,000 for the DF-4) and is road- and rail-mobile, and thus more survivable than the silo-based DF-4.[16]

Operators

References

  1. ^ a b c The Federation of American Scientists & The Natural Resources Defense Council Chinese Nuclear Forces and U.S. Nuclear War Planning p. 202 [1] Archived 2011-04-28 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ PRC Defense Policy and Armed Forces, National Intelligence Estimate 13-76, November 11, 1976, p. 47.
  3. ^ "中国东风系列导弹简介". Archived from the original on 2012-08-01. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  4. ^ http://csatm.cn/f0309110006.html
  5. ^ "DF-4 - China Nuclear Forces". nuke.fas.org.
  6. ^ "DF-4 - China Nuclear Forces". www.globalsecurity.org.
  7. ^ "东风4型洲际导弹 (Dongfeng VI intercontinental ballistic missile)". Archived from the original on 2009-09-15. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
  8. ^ Kristensen, Hans M.; Korda, Matt; Reynolds, Eliana (2023-03-04). "Chinese nuclear weapons, 2023". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. 79 (2): 108–133. doi:10.1080/00963402.2023.2178713. ISSN 0096-3402.
  9. ^ Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat (Report). Defense Intelligence Ballistic Missile Analysis Committee. June 2017. p. 29. NASIC-1031-0985-17. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  10. ^ a b c Zhang, Hui (2025-11-25). The Untold Story of China's Nuclear Weapon Development and Testing. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-05182-8.
  11. ^ Diamond, Howard (July 1, 1999). "Chinese Strategic Plans Move Forward with Missile Test". Arms Control Today. Arms Control Association. ISSN 0196-125X. Archived from the original on October 19, 2019.
  12. ^ U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, The Military Power of the People’s Republic of China, 2005, 2005, p. 28
  13. ^ "DF-4 – China Nuclear Forces". Fas.org. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
  14. ^ U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, The Military Power of the People’s Republic of China, 2000, 2000, p. 17.
  15. ^ U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Military Power of the People’s Republic of China, 2006, May 22, 2006, p. 50.
  16. ^ "DF-31/-31A (CSS-9) - Missile ThreatMissile Threat". missilethreat.com. Archived from the original on 2016-01-13.
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