Chinese-Made Dong-Feng Missile Family DF-15 and DF-16.

 

Dong-Feng 15,

The DF-15 is a short-range road-mobile ballistic missile in the Chinese-made Dong-Feng (DF) missile family. The development of the DF-15 started in 1984 mainly for the export market. The DF-15 (export name: M-9, NATO Name: CSS-6) was developed by the Chinese Academy of Technology rocket engines (Academy of Rocket Motor Technology - ARMT, also known as the Fourth Aerospace Academy).

The DF-15 was unveiled for the first time at the Beijing Defense Exposition in 1988. The DF-15 is in service with the Chinese army since 1995, with an initial force of 40 missiles. By the end of 1999, China had deployed 200 DF-15s and was increasing the force at a rate of 50 missiles per year.

According to military sources, the DF-15 was adopted by the Second Artillery Corps People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 1989. The U.S. Department of Defense estimated in 2008 that China had 315 - 355 DF-15 missiles and 90-110 launchers.

DF-15 Ballistic Missile Variants:

Ø  DF-15A:  fitted with a new missile, the accuracy is estimated to be 30 to 45 m CEP and has a maximum range of 900 km. The DF-15A missile is slightly longer.

Ø   DF-15B:  an upgraded version of DF-15A, the DF-15B has components that greatly increase the accuracy and uses a new truck launcher (TEL).

Ø   DF-15C:  This version is designed to strike hardened underground facilities by impacting at a steep trajectory.

Ø  M-9: the Iranian version of the Chinese DF-15.

Ø   Shaheen 1: Pakistani mobile single-stage solid propellant intermediate-range ballistic missile, a license-assembled Chinese DF-15.

Type	Armament
Short-range ballistic missile	One missile
Country users	Range missile
China	200 to 600 km maximum
Warhead	Guidance system missile
HE High Explosive or nuclear 500 kg	Inertial guidance system
Propulsion	Radar and Command Station
Solid propellant motor	Command and control vehicle
Crew	Dimensions Missile
3	Length: 9.1 m; Diameter: 1.0 m

 

 

Dong-Feng 16,

The DF-16 is a mobile short medium-range ballistic missile of the Chinese-made Dongfeng (DF) missile family. The Df-16 was unveiled for the first time during the military in Beijing, on September 3, 2015.

The DF-16 began development in the mid-2000s when it was initially identified as the DF-11C, a two-stage variant of the DF-11. The DF-16 is an improvement of the old DF-11 and DF-15. China has deployed over 1,000 of the two older missiles, which have ranges of about 500km-700km and a CEP (circular error probable) of 30 meters.

 According to the Project 2019 Institute, a think tank, the DF-16 is currently deployed to a Second Artillery regiment in Guangdong Province, a suitable location for targeting either Taiwan or Vietnam.

A Taiwan official announced on March 16, 2011, that Taiwan believed China had begun deploying the missiles. The DF-16 represents an increased threat to Taiwan because it is more difficult for anti-ballistic missile systems, such as the MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3, to intercept.

 

Type	Armament
Short / Medium-range ballistic missile	One missile
Country users	Range missile
China	800 to 1,000 km maximum
Warhead missile	Guidance system missile
One/two/three MIRVs HE or nuclear 500 to 1,000 kg	Inertial Navigation System, Global Positioning System and terminal guidance system
Propulsion missile	Radar and Command Station
Two solid propellant motors	Command and control vehicle
Crew	Dimensions
3	Length: 7.8m ; Diameter: 1.2 m