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.
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 Top 1% of missiles
- 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 Top 2% of missiles
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- Warhead
Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range.
- 1,200 kg Top 4% of missiles
- 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 Stronger than 13% of missiles
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-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.
