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Country: China
Type: IRBM
Introduction: 1971 |
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Deployment of the DF-3 intermediate range missile (IRBM) began in 1971 reaching a peak of 110 by 1984, then shrinking to 50 in 1993. It is estimated by the United States Department of Defense (DOD) that there were 16 missiles and 8 launchers in operation as of 2006.
According to the DOD, the DF-3A variant, deployed from 1988, represents the primary Chinese stategic missile system. It is currently being retired and was inaccurately predicted to have been removed from the strategic missile arsenal of China in 2002. In 1987 China sold several dozen (reportedly between 36 and 60) outmoded DF-3 missiles to Saudi Arabia, minus their nuclear warheads.
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| General Information |
| Developed by |
China |
| Deployed by |
China, Saudi Arabia |
| Development Year |
1964(DF-3),1980s(DF-3A) |
| Deployment Year |
1971, 1988 |
| Retirement Year |
Unknown
Targets |
| central and eastern Asia, Japan, India, US bases in the Philippine Islands |
Platform |
| silo and TEL |
Launcher |
| mobile trailer-erector |
Number deployed |
| 150-200(peak:1984), 30-40(current) |
Design |
| First Academy of the Ministry of Aerospace Industry |
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| Dimensions and Performance |
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Length |
21.2m |
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Body Diameter |
2.25m |
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Launch Weight |
64,000kg |
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Range |
2,800km(DF-3A), 2,500km(DF-3) |
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Speed |
4.7km/sec |
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Accuracy |
1,000m CEP(DF-3A), 2,000-3,000m CEP(DF-3) |
| Components |
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Propulsion |
1-stage liquid-fuel rocket motor |
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Engine |
a cluster of 4 YF-2 engines(total thrust of 96 tonnes) |
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Payload |
single warhead 2,000kg(DF-3A), 2,150kg(DF-3) |
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Warhead |
1-3MT nuclear warhead or 2,500kg conventional HE(for Saudi Arabia) |
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Guidance |
inertial (in the early days,used a ground-based radio-command) |
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