DF-31

The Dong Feng 31 (a.k.a. CSS-10) is a long-range, road-mobile, three stage, solid propellant 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 nuclear warhead. 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. It is not known how many missiles of this type the SAC currently has.

The DF-31A is believed to have incorporated many advanced technologies similar to current generation Russian ICBMs, including the use of penetration aids such as decoys or chaff and maneuverable reentry vehicles to complicate enemy's missile warning and defense system.

History
The PRC began developing the DF-31 as a second-generation ICBM successor of the DF-4 in the mid-1980s. 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. On August 2, 1999, the Chinese state news media reported the successful test of the DF-31. Operational deployment of the missiles reportedly began sometime between 2002 and 2003, but as of early 2006 the US Defense Department reported to Congress that initial deployment was expected later that year. In 2009, US Air Force Intelligence reported that under 15 DF-31 missiles had been deployed.

Description
The DF-31 is a three stage solid-propellant rocket equipped with an inertial navigation system. The missile is mounted on a transport-erector launcher.

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 11,200 km, and possibly MIRV capability to hold 3 warheads each capable of a 20-150 kt yield, and penetration and decoy aids to complicate missile defense efforts.