DF-17
{{Infobox weapon
| is_missile = yes
| name = DF-17
| image = 300px
| caption = DF-17 missile on a road-mobile vehicle
| origin = China
| engine = Single-stage solid-fuel rocket{{sfn|Nouwen|Wright|Graham|Herzinger|2024|p=10}}
| weight = ~{{convert|5000|kg|lb}}
| length = ~{{convert|11|m|ft}}
| diameter =
| vehicle_range = {{convert|1600|km|mi}}+{{sfn|Nouwen|Wright|Graham|Herzinger|2024|p=28}}
| filling = Thermonuclear (claimed by the United States) or
Conventional
| manufacturer = China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT){{sfn|Wood|Cliff|2020|p=13}}
| unit_cost =
| service = 2019–present
| used_by = People's Liberation Army Rocket Force
| guidance =
| accuracy =
| launch_platform = Road-mobile Transporter erector launcher
}}
The Dongfeng-17 ({{zh|t=東風-17|s=东风-17|p=dōngfēng-17|l=East Wind-17}}; NATO reporting name: CH-SS-22{{sfn|Nouwen|Wright|Graham|Herzinger|2024|p=9}}), is a Chinese solid-fuelled road-mobile medium-range ballistic missile{{sfn|Nouwen|Wright|Graham|Herzinger|2024|p=10}} designed to carry the DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle.{{sfn|Wood|Cliff|2020|p=23}}
Design
The DF-17 uses the rocket booster from the DF-16B short-range ballistic missile.{{sfn|Wood|Cliff|2020|p=23}}
It is more difficult for missile defenses to intercept the manoeuvrable DF-ZF than a ballistic missile, whose trajectories are more predictable.{{sfn|Mihal|2021|p=22}}{{sfn|Nouwen|Wright|Graham|Herzinger|2024|p=9}} DF-17 strikes to degrade air and missile defenses may precede the use of less survivable weapons.{{sfn|Nouwen|Wright|Graham|Herzinger|2024|p=9}}
According to Chinese commentators, the DF-ZF is armed with a conventional warhead.{{sfn|Mihal|2021|p=22}} US intelligence considers the DF-ZF to be nuclear capable as well.{{cite web |last1=Panda |first1=Ankit |url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/02/questions-about-chinas-df-17-and-a-nuclear-capability/ |title=Questions About China's DF-17 and a Nuclear Capability |website=The Diplomat |date=16 February 2020 |access-date=5 March 2020}}
=Development=
The DF-ZF flight test on 15 November 2017 was launched using a DF-17.{{sfn|Wood|Cliff|2020|p=21}}{{cite web |url=https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/df-17/ |title=DF-17 |work=CSIS Missile Defense Project |access-date=5 March 2020}}
The DF-17 and DF-ZF made their first official public appearance during the National Day military parade on 1 October 2019.{{sfn|Wood|Cliff|2020|p=23}}
A 2020 study by the U.S. Air Force said the missile was believed to be the first HGV-equipped tactical ballistic missile in operational deployment.{{sfn|Wood|Cliff|2020|p=23}}
Strategic implications
In March 2020, the United States Department of Defense proposed accelerating the development of conventionally armed hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV) to keep pace with the Chinese development. Michael Griffin, former Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, told the House Armed Services Committee that the United States needs to develop hypersonic weapons "to allow us to match what our adversaries are doing."{{cite web |url=https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2020-04/news/pentagon-tests-hypersonic-glide-body |title=Pentagon Tests Hypersonic Glide Body |last1=Reif |first1=Kingston |last2=Bugos |first2=Shannon|date=April 2020 |website=armscontrol.org |publisher=Arms Control Association}}
=Further development=
In 2020, multiple military observers in China reported an air-launched hypersonic missile version based on DF-17 was undergoing testing.{{cite web|url=https://www.twz.com/37115/video-surfaces-of-chinese-h-6n-missile-carrier-jet-hauling-what-could-be-a-hypersonic-weapon |title=Video Of Chinese Missile Carrier Jet Hauling What Appears To Be A Hypersonic Weapon Emerges |website=The War Zone |date=17 October 2020 |first=Tyler |last=Rogoway }}{{cite web|url=https://www.twz.com/this-is-our-best-look-yet-at-chinas-air-launched-carrier-killer-missile |title=This Is Our Best Look Yet At China’s Air-Launched ‘Carrier Killer’ Missile |website=The War Zone |date=19 April 2022 |first=Thomas |last=Newdick }}
See also
- Avangard – Russia's ground-based hypersonic glide vehicle
- Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon – US planned hypersonic glide vehicle
References
{{Reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite journal |last1=Mihal |first1=Christopher J. |date=July–August 2021 |title=Understanding the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force |url=https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/English-Edition-Archives/July-August-2021/Mihal-PLA-Rocket-Force/ |journal=Military Review |volume=101 |issue=4 |pages=16–30 |doi= |access-date=}}
- {{cite report |last1=Nouwen |first1=Veerle |last2=Wright |first2=Timothy |last3=Graham |first3=Euan |last4=Herzinger |first4=Blake |date=January 2024 |title=Long-range Strike Capabilities in the Asia-Pacific: Implications for Regional Stability |url=https://www.iiss.org/research-paper/2024/01/long-range-strike-capabilities-in-the--asia-pacific-implications-for-regional-stability/ |publisher=The International Institute for Strategic Studies |page= |docket= |access-date= |quote=}}
- {{cite book |last1=Wood |first1=Peter |last2=Cliff |first2=Roger |date=2020 |title=A Case Study of the PRC's Hypersonic Systems Development |url=https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/CASI/Display/Article/2334616/a-case-study-of-the-prcs-hypersonic-systems-development/ |publisher=China Aerospace Studies Institute |isbn=9798672412085 }}
{{-}}
{{Chinese missiles}}
Category:Ballistic missiles of the People's Republic of China