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DF-21D

The only ballistic missile capable of striking mobile aircraft carriers

DF-21D is China’s developed world’s first operational anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM). Traditional ballistic missiles target fixed land targets; whereas the DF-21D is aimed at mobile U.S. aircraft carriers. Its design purpose is to prevent the U.S. Pacific Fleet from approaching Taiwan within a range of 1500 kilometers. Hence, it is called a carrier killer. It is the flagship weapon of China’s Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) strategy.

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• What is DF-21D?

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What is DF-21D?

DF-21D (Dongfeng-21D) is produced by China’s CASIC and is the world’s first operational anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM). Its NATO designation is CSS-5 Mod-4.

The weapon is considered revolutionary for the following reasons:

• Traditional ballistic missiles target fixed land targets (such as cities, command centers, air force bases). The target coordinates are known before launch.
• The DF-21D is designed to strike mobile aircraft carriers. An aircraft carrier can travel at 50 kilometers per hour on the high seas; at the time of launch, its position is uncertain every minute.
• Solution: The missile automatically seeks and locks onto large metal targets (aircraft carriers) at sea using radar and electro-optical seekers during re-entry into the atmosphere.
• At this time, speeds can reach Mach 10+; the vessel has almost no escape time.

Its strategic objective is: “Anti-Access/Area Denial” (A2/AD). China aims to deter potential U.S. intervention by making U.S. aircraft carriers unable to approach Taiwan. The DF-21D’s range of 1500 kilometers covers the entire area of the first island chain (Japan-Taiwan-Philippines).

U.S. defense analysts refer to the DF-21D as a “game changer”—the assumptions of U.S. naval operations in the Pacific are altered due to this weapon. In response, the U.S. continues to develop the SM-3 / SM-6 standard missile series; U.S. aircraft carriers are gradually shifting to using long-range munitions and unmanned platforms to avoid direct engagement within range.

Its longer-range sibling, the DF-26 (4000+ kilometers), is referred to as the “Guam killer”—capable of striking U.S. bases in Guam. This series is still expanding.