What is DF-21D? A Chinese anti-ship ballistic missile “carrier killer”
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) |
| Manufacturer | CASIC |
| NATO Code | CSS-5 Mod-4 |
| Previous Versions | DF-21A/B/C Ground Target |
| Weight | ≈14,700 kg |
| Length | ≈10.7 m |
| Range | ≈1,500 km (DF-21D); 4,000+ km (DF-26 the older brother) |
| Speed | Mach 10+ (Final Re-entry) |
| Warhead | Manoeuvrable Re-entry Vehicle (MaRV) |
| Guidance | INS + BeiDou + Active Radar Terminal/Optical Electronics |
| Launch | TEL — Truck-mounted Vertical Launch |
| Target Acquisition | Active seeker during atmospheric re-entry |
| Service | 2010+ (DF-21D in combat service) |
| Nickname | Carrier Killer / Hangmu Shashu |
| Family | DF-21 (MRBM, Ground Variant), DF-26 (IRBM), DF-17 (HGV) |
Impact on U.S. Strategy in the Pacific
- The United States keeps carrier strike groups away from Taiwan
- The United States shifts to distributed maritime operations
- For smaller platforms long-range weapons
- Investments in SM-3 / SM-6 defense have increased
- The U.S. Navy focuses on unmanned platforms
- Hypersonic counter-strike weapons have accelerated
- Turkish equivalent: ATMACA domestic anti-ship missile (naval launch)
