DF-31 (CSS-10)
DF-31 in Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution
Type	Intercontinental ballistic missile
Place of origin	People's Republic of China
Service history
In service	2006 (DF-31), 2007 (DF-31A), 2017 (DF-31B)
Used by	People's Liberation Army Rocket Force
Production history
Manufacturer	Academy of Rocket Motors Technology (ARMT)
Specifications
Mass	54 t (54,000 kg; 60 short tons)
Length	21.6 m (70 ft 10 in)
Diameter	2.37 m (7 ft 9 in)
Warhead	1 x 1 Mt or 5 x 90-400 kt[1]
Engine	Solid-fuel rocket
Operational range	7,200–8,000 km (4,500–5,000 mi) (DF-31)[2][3] 13,200 km (8,200 mi) (DF-31A)[3]
Flight altitude	up to 1200 km
Maximum speed	Up to 8.16 km/s
Guidance system	Astro-inertial guidance with BeiDou Navigation Satellite System
Accuracy	100 m CEP for silo launched and 150 m for TEL-launched.[4]
Launch platform	Silo, 8 axle TEL

The Dong Feng 31 (simplified Chinese: 东风-31; traditional Chinese: 東風-31; lit. 'East Wind-31'; NATO reporting name CSS-10)^[5] is a third-generation long-range, road-mobile, three stage, solid-fuel rocket intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the Dongfeng missile series developed by the People's Republic of China. It is designed to carry a single 1-megaton thermonuclear weapon. It is a land-based variant of the submarine-launched JL-2. It is operated by the Second Artillery Corps (SAC) which, in 2009, was estimated to have under 15 DF-31 missiles and under 15 DF-31A missiles in inventory.^[6] US Air Force National Air and Space Intelligence Center estimates that as of June 2017, five to ten Mod 1 and over fifteen Mod 2 launchers were operationally deployed.^[7]

History

The PRC began developing the DF-31 ICBM in January 1985.^[8] ARMT (then called the 4th Aerospace Academy) was appointed as the main contractor while the research arm of the Second Artillery Corps provided contributing support. The land-based variant of the JL-2 was originally called the DF-23 but was changed later on to the DF-31 because of a change in operational requirements. In 1999, the missile was first displayed publicly at the National Day Parade.^[9] On August 2, 1999, the Chinese state news media reported the successful test of the DF-31.^[8] The third test flight of the missile occurred on November 4, 2000; the second test flight had taken place earlier that year.^[10] Operational deployment of the missiles reportedly began in 2006.^[11] In 2009, US Air Force Intelligence reported that under 15 DF-31 missiles had been deployed.^[6]

Description

The DF-31 is a three stage solid-fuel rocket equipped with an inertial navigation system. The missile is mounted on a transporter erector launcher. It is capable of reaching targets throughout Europe, Asia, and parts of Canada and the northwestern United States.

DF-31A

The PRC has developed an improved variant of the DF-31 called the DF-31A. This upgraded missile has a reported range of 13,200 km,^[3] will allow targeting of most of the continental United States^[7] and was designed with MIRV capability to hold 3 to 5 warheads, each capable of a 90–400 kt yield, but is thought to be armed with only one warhead with penetration and decoy aids to complicate missile defense efforts.^[1][6] The missile was shown to the public during the parade in Beijing celebrating 70 years since the end of World War II on September 3, 2015.^[12] It can carry maneuverable reentry vehicles.^[13]

DF-31AG/DF-31B

The PRC has developed an improved variant of the DF-31A called the DF-31AG (G stands for 改 (Gaï), "modified)^[14] or DF-31B with an off-road 8 axle TEL and MIRVs.^[15][16] China has successfully tested it from a mobile launcher.^[17] The missile's TEL features an extra pair of elevators near the aft of the missile unlike the TELs of the DF-31 or DF-31A, suggesting a heavier missile second and third stage than earlier variants.^[18] On the military parade marking the 90th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army in 2017, DF-31AG ICBM was officially demonstrated.^[19]