Pictures Of DF-25 Missile Revealed For The First Time

[Ryan Ruck]

Pictures Of DF-25 Missile Revealed For The First Time

According to Central News Agency, Sina Net published two pictures of a new missile, "Dongfeng 25" (DF - 25) on its military homepage. This is the first time DF-25 has been revealed to the outsiders, according to the Hong Kong media.

The images of DF-25 are extremely clear, obviously are not faked. Moreover, they show that the missiles stand vertically at the back of their launching vehicle where they are prepared for launch.

DF-25 is one of the China's most advanced second-generation strategic missiles. It was the improved version based on DF-21 ground-to-ground strategic missile, and PLA will deploy them soon.

It is reported that DF-25 has the effective range of 3,200 kilometers, and, when launched inside the Chinese territory, may reach the majority of Asia, including U.S. military base in Guam on the Pacific Ocean. DF-25 uses the high energy solid rocket booster, can carry 3 miniaturized nuclear warheads, and is currently the world's only medium range MIRV missile.

China's second-generation strategic missiles include DF-21, DF-25, DF-31, DF-41, and Julang-2 series. All of them can be launched from a mobile launcher, may carry the nuclear warheads, and are accurate. Moreover, their survival rate is high.

That size and mobile launcher, I'm sure, would make it ideal to hide and/or launch from a cargo ship.

[Ryan Ruck]

PLA's New Ballistic Missiles Revealed

Click image for high resolution image

Two new types of ballistic missiles of the PLA was revealed on Saturday, when a photo showing the missiles was published on Internet anonymously.

These missiles bear no resemblance to any existing missile systems deployed by the PLA. They are carried inside a cylinder-shape storage container, which is mounted on a 10X10 TEL vehicle. The missile container has a unique conical-shape nose at its top. The two missile systems in the photo are slightly different in the shape of their noses, one is round while the other much sharper.

The 10X10 TEL vehicle is apparently developed from the Wanshan WS2400, which is also used by many other Chinese-designed ballistic missile and artillery rocket systems.

The designations and purposes of these missiles are unknown.

[Sean Osborne]

The DF-25 was developed jointly with the Islamic Republic of Iran and for export to Iran. The DF-25 was judged by many military experts to not become an operational weapons system until 2010. Surprise, surprise.

[Ryan Ruck]

The DF-25 was judged by many military experts to not become an operational weapons system until 2010. Surprise, surprise.

This seems to be a common theme with developement of various TAA weapons systems.

Now the question is is it our faulty intelligence agencies (largely gutted during the Clinton years), is it a push by the TAA to get these systems developed far ahead of schedule in preparation for conflict, or is it a combination of both?