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Strategic missiles

China

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)

DF-41

China's longest-range road-mobile MIRV ICBM, publicly unveiled at the 2019 National Day parade.

In service since 2020

Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-03

Several performance figures for China-origin systems are manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification. Treat these specs as directional, not tested values.

Procurement snapshot

Availability & export

Chinese state channel

State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.

Channel: State export agency

Fielded & proven

Operator data not public

In service since 2020. Status: active.

Lifecycle cost (est.)

No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →

Interoperability

No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.

Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.

Overview

The DF-41 is the most capable road-mobile ICBM in China's arsenal, carried on a transporter-erector-launcher for survivability. Caveat: figures are Western-intelligence-estimated, China does not publish official specifications.

Full specifications

Performance

Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.

Performance specifications
Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters.	25 Mach Stronger than 75% of its class
Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.	15,000 km Stronger than 83% of its class

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Firepower specifications
Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable.	estimated 3 up to approximately 10 MIRV (estimates vary)
Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire.	Inertial, Stellar and satellite updates (assessed)

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Physical specifications
Width Overall width, matters for rail/road transport of vehicles.	2.25 m
Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.	80,000 kg

Propulsion

Engine, power and fuel.

Propulsion specifications
Engine Powerplant model and type.	Three-stage solid-fuel rocket
Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…	3-stage solid

Specifications compiled from public China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-03.

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