China China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation
DF-26
A road-mobile intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of both conventional and nuclear payloads, with a publicized anti-ship strike mode. Its range is popularly described as reaching Guam, earning it the nickname 'Guam Killer' in Western commentary.
In service since 2016 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
4,000
km range
18
Mach
1,200
kg warhead
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
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 2016. 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.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 18 Mach |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 4,000 km |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range. | 1,200 kg |
|---|---|
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | Conventional or nuclear, maneuverable reentry vehicle (anti-ship mode reported) |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Inertial navigation, satellite update, terminal homing (anti-ship variant) |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 14 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 20,000 kg |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Two-stage solid-fuel rocket |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
|---|
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
Boeing AGM-86 ALCM Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-26? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-26 has a maximum range of 4,000 km.
How much does the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-26 weigh? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-26 has a combat weight of 20,000 kg.
What is the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-26 used for? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-26 is a missile typically used for deep strike.
How many countries operate the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-26? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-26 is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-26 cost? +
China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation DF-26: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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Related coverage
DF-26 in the news
Article industry · Jul 12, 2026
Anti-Ship Missiles: 4,000km Claims vs a 300km Kill
China's DF-26 claims a 4,000km anti-ship range, longest of 41 tracked missiles. The only confirmed combat kill came from Ukraine's Neptune, ranged at 300km.
Article industry · Jul 4, 2026
Which Hypersonic Missiles Are Actually Hypersonic?
Of 23 missiles in the WeaponSpecs database clocking Mach 5-plus, only 2 fly a true hypersonic regime. The rest are ballistic missiles falling fast.