1 photo + video

Missile

China

China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation

DF-17

A Chinese medium-range ballistic missile that carries the DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle, unveiled at the 2019 National Day parade as one of the first operational hypersonic glide weapons in the world. It is intended to penetrate regional missile defenses against fixed and area targets, including in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea context.

In service since 2019

Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02

2,500

km range

Mach

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

Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed

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 2019. 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.

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.	10 Mach Top 5% of missiles
Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.	2,500 km Top 3% of missiles

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Firepower specifications
Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable.	Conventional high-explosive or nuclear (hypersonic glide vehicle)
Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire.	Inertial navigation, BeiDou satellite update, Glide-phase maneuvering

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Physical specifications
Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.	11 m
Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.	15,000 kg

Propulsion

Engine, power and fuel.

Propulsion specifications
Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…	Solid-fuel rocket, boost-glide

Specifications compiled from public China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.

Compare with rivals

See how it stacks up

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Head-to-head comparisons

DF-17 vs

3M22 Zircon

Frequently asked questions

What is the range of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-17? +

The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-17 has a maximum range of 2,500 km.

How much does the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-17 weigh? +

The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-17 has a combat weight of 15,000 kg.

What is the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-17 used for? +

The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-17 is a missile typically used for deep strike.

How much does the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-17 cost? +

China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-17: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.