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
10
Mach
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.
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.
- Max speed (Mach)
Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters.
- 10 Mach Top 6% 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 4% of missiles
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- 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.
- 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 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.
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Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire 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.
