02 November 2020

China extends range of its hypersonic missile system

by Malcolm Claus

The first public display of China’s new DF-17 medium range ballistic missile (MRBM) system was on 1 October 2019 during the 70th anniversary parade to mark the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The DF-17, which features a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), was part of the parade among several new weapons, including new missiles such as the DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

The Hong Kong-based newspaper the South China Morning Post reported on 16 November that “observers were surprised to see sixteen DF-17s on their launchers”. The public display of the DF-17 generated speculation about its performance and operational capability, and this analysis will present an update on the DF-17, its capabilities, applications, and possible future development.

Performance and configuration

The DF-17 was first identified in open sources in 2014 and was originally referred to as the DF-ZF. Around this time, test flights and other associated support work were carried out as part of the wider Chinese hypersonic programme (as reported in ‘Chinese hypersonic programme reflects regional priorities’, online in Janes Intelligence Review on 12 March 2019 and in print Vol 31, No 4).

The DF-17 system comprises two elements – a launch vehicle and a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV). The HGV is mounted on top of the launch vehicle, which is used to boost the HGV along the initial part of its trajectory, before performing a manoeuvre that will then enable the HGV to begin the glide phase of its trajectory, occurring in the upper atmosphere). Several missiles are available that could act as the launch vehicle for the HGV.