DF-17

DF-17
DF-17 missile on a road-mobile vehicle
Type	MRBM with HGV
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	2019–present
Used by	People's Liberation Army Rocket Force
Production history
Manufacturer	China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)[1]
Specifications
Mass	~5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb)[2]
Length	~11 metres (36 ft)[2]
Warhead	Thermonuclear (claimed by the United States) or Conventional
Engine	Single-stage solid-fuel rocket[3]
Operational range	1,600 kilometres (990 mi)+[4]
Launch platform	Road-mobile Transporter erector launcher

The Dongfeng-17 (simplified Chinese: 东风-17; traditional Chinese: 東風-17; pinyin: dōngfēng-17; lit. 'East Wind-17'; NATO reporting name: CH-SS-22^[5]), is a Chinese solid-fuelled road-mobile medium-range ballistic missile^[3] designed to carry the DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle.^[6]

The missile likely entered service in the second half of 2019. It is the first operationally deployed tactical ballistic missile with an HGV.^[6]

Design

The DF-17 uses the rocket booster from the DF-16B short-range ballistic missile.^[6]

It is more difficult for missile defense to intercept the manoeuvrable DF-ZF than a ballistic missile, whose trajectories are more predictable.^[7][5] DF-17 strikes to degrade air and missile defenses may precede the use of less survival weapons.^[5]

According to Chinese commentators, the DF-ZF is armed with a conventional warhead.^[7] US intelligence considered the DF-ZF to be nuclear capable as well.^[8]

Development

The flight test of the DF-ZF on 15 November 2017 was launched from a DF-17.^[9][2]

The DF-17 and DF-ZF made their first official public appearance during the National Day military parade on 1 October 2019.^[6]

Strategic implications

In March 2020, the United States Department of Defense proposes to accelerate the development of conventionally armed hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV) to keep pace with the Chinese development. Michael Griffin, former Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, presented House Armed Services Committee that the United States needs to develop hypersonic weapons "to allow us to match what our adversaries are doing."^[10]

See also

• Avangard – Russia's ground-based hypersonic glide vehicle
• Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon – US planned hypersonic glide vehicle

References

Sources

• Mihal, Christopher J. (July–August 2021). "Understanding the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force". Military Review. 101 (4): 16–30.
• Nouwen, Veerle; Wright, Timothy; Graham, Euan; Herzinger, Blake (January 2024). Long-range Strike Capabilities in the Asia-Pacific: Implications for Regional Stability (Report). The International Institute for Strategic Studies.
• Wood, Peter; Cliff, Roger (2020). A Case Study of the PRC's Hypersonic Systems Development. China Aerospace Studies Institute. ISBN 9798672412085.