The DF-21D is the antiship variant of China's DF-21 medium-range ballistic missile, designated CSS-5 Mod 5 by the United States. It is conventionally armed and designed to attack ships at sea, which has earned it the nickname carrier-killer. United States reports suggest a range of 1,450 to 1,550 kilometres, and its warhead is likely maneuverable, with an accuracy that may be about 20 metres circular error probable. The missile is listed as entering service in 2006, alongside the conventional land-attack DF-21C, and in 2013 it was reportedly tested against a ship target roughly the size of a contemporary United States aircraft carrier. The wider DF-21 family, in service since 1991, was China's first road-mobile solid-propellant missile, and the D variant is one of two nonnuclear versions that China employs. Estimates of deployed numbers for the nonnuclear variants are hard to verify and range from as low as 50 to as many as 200.
Facts
Weapon Class
Weapon Class (category) Classification
Service Status Introduced Year Connections
Operated By
Source DF-21 (CSS-5) (CSIS Missile Threat)
Sources
1. DF-21 (CSS-5) (CSIS Missile Threat)
DF-21D (CSS-5 MOD 5)
The DF-21D is a conventionally armed DF-21 variant designed to attack ships at sea.
DF-21D (CSS-5 MOD 5) [introduced-year]
This missile entered service in 2006 along with the DF-21C.
DF-21 Variants
China employs two nonnuclear Dong Feng 21 variants, a land attack Dongfeng-21C and the anti-ship Dong Feng 21D.
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