Dongfeng ( missile ) The Dongfeng ( ) missile is a series of intermediate and intercontinental ballistic missile s operated by the People ' s Republic of China . Typically , the word Dongfeng is shortened to " DF " , so Dongfeng 9 is written as DF - 9 . History . After the signing of Sino - Soviet Treaty of Friendship , Alliance , and Mutual Assistance in 1950 , the Soviet Union assisted China ' s military R & D with training , technical documentation , manufacturing equipment , and license - production of Soviet weapons . In the area of ballistic missiles , the Soviets transferred R - 1 ( SS - 1 ) , R - 2 ( SS - 2 ) , and R - 11F to China . The first Chinese ballistic missiles were based on Russian design . Since then , China has made many advances in its ballistic missile and rocket technology . The space - launch Long March rocket has its roots in the Dong Feng missile . Dongfeng missiles . Dongfeng 1 ( SS - 2 ) . First of the Dong Feng missiles , the DF - 1 was a licensed copy of the Soviet R - 2 ( SS - 2 Sibling ) missile . The DF - 1 had a single RD - 101 rocket engine , and used alcohol for fuel with liquid oxygen ( LOX ) as an oxidizer . The missile had max range of 550 km and 500 kg payload . Limited numbers of DF - 1 were produced in the 1960s , and have since been retired . Dongfeng 2 ( CSS - 1 ) . The DF - 2 is China ' s first medium - range ballistic missile , with 1 , 250 km range and 15 - 20 kt nuclear warhead . It received the western designation of CSS - 1 , for China Surface - to - Surface ( missile ) . It was long noted by the western observers that the DF - 2 could be a copy of the Soviet R - 5 Pobeda ( SS - 3 Shyster ) , as they have identical look , range , engine and payload . Now it is known that the whole documentation for R - 5 had been delivered from Soviet Union to China in the late 1950s . But some western authors are still attribute the entire design to Chinese specialists Xie Guangxuan , Liang Sili , Liu Chuanru , Liu Yuanwei , Lin Shuangwei , and Ren Xinmin . The first DF - 2 failed in its launch test in 1962 , leading to the improved DF - 2A . The DF - 2A was used to carry out China ' s first nuclear ballistic missile test at Lop Nor in 1966 , and was in operational service since late 1960s . All DF - 2 were retired from active duty in the 1980s . Dongfeng 3 ( CSS - 2 ) . The DF - 3 is often considered China ' s first " domestic " intermediate - range ballistic missile ( IRBM ) . The common ICBM design was greatly influenced by soviet R - 14 Chusovaya missile and the first stage engine itself was a direct copy of С . 2 . 1100 / С . 2 . 1150 La - 350 booster engine developed by Isayev OKB - 2 ( NII - 88 ) . The responsibility for the development guidance has been attributed to both Tu Shou ' e ( 屠守锷 ) and Sun Jiadong ( 孙家栋 ) , and the missile as produced at Factory 211 ( Capital Astronautics Co . , 首都航天机械公司 , also known as Capital Machine Shop , 首都机械厂 ) . The 2 , 500 km DF - 3 was originally designed with 2 , 000 kg payload to carry an atomic ( later thermonuclear ) payload . A further improved DF - 3A with 3 , 000 km range ( ~ 4 , 000 km with reduced payload ) was developed in 1981 , and exported to Saudi Arabia with conventional high - explosive warhead . Most DF - 3 / DF - 3A ' s have been retired , with 30 - 40 remaining and scheduled to be replaced by DF - 21 . Their range of 2 , 810 km means they fall just short of being able to target Guam , although the 2012 DOD report on China ' s military power states that they have a range of 3 , 300 km , which would be enough to target Guam . The 2013 Pentagon report on China ' s military power confirms the DF - 3 ' s 3 , 300 km range , and its maps show Guam being within the DF - 3 ' s range . Dongfeng 4 ( CSS - 3 ) . The DF - 4 " Chingyu " is China ' s first two - stage ballistic missile , with 5 , 550 - 7 , 000 km range and 2 , 200 kg payload ( 3 Mt nuclear warhead ) . It was developed in late 1960s to provide strike capability against Moscow and Guam . The DF - 4 missile also served as basis for China ' s first space launch vehicle , Chang Zeng 1 ( Long March 1 ) . Approx . 20 DF - 4 ' s remain in service , and are scheduled to be replaced by DF - 31 by 2010 - 2015 . Dongfeng 5 ( CSS - 4 ) . The DF - 5 is an intercontinental ballistic missile ( ICBM ) , designed to carry a 3 megaton ( Mt ) nuclear warhead to distance up to 12 , 000 km . The DF - 5 is a silo - based , two - stage missile , and its rocket served as the basis for the space - launch vehicle Fengbao - Tempest ( FB - 1 ) used to launch satellites . The missile was developed in the 1960s , but did not enter service until 1981 . An improved variant , the DF - 5A , was produced in the mid 1990s with improved range ( > 13 , 000 km ) . Currently , an estimated 24 - 36 DF - 5A ' s are in service as China ' s primary ICBM force . Dongfeng 11 ( CSS - 7 ) . Also known as the M - 11 ( export ) , the DF - 11 is a road - mobile short - range ballistic missile ( SRBM ) designed by Wang Zhenhua at the Sanjiang Missile Corporation ( also known as the 066 Base ) in the late 1970s . Unlike previous Chinese ballistic missiles , the DF - 11 use solid fuel , which greatly reduces launch preparation time ( 15 - 30 min ) . Liquid - fueled missiles such as the DF - 5 require up to 2 hours of pre - launch preparation . The DF - 11 has range of 300 km and 800 kg payload . An improved DF - 11A version has increased range of > 825 km . The range of the M - 11 does not violate the limits set by the Missile Technology Control Regime ( MTCR ) . Estimates on the number of DF - 11s in service vary between 500 to 600 . Dongfeng 15 ( CSS - 6 ) . Also known as the M - 9 ( export ) , the DF - 15 was developed by the CASC China Academy of Rocket Motor Technology ( ARMT ) , previously known as the 5th Aerospace Academy . The missile is a single - stage , solid - fuel SRBM with 600 km range and 500 kg payload . During the 1995 - 1996 Taiwan strait crisis , the PLA launched 6 DF - 15 ' s in an " exercise " to demonstrate the missile ' s capability . Although the DF - 15 is marketed for export , its range would violate the Missile Technology Control Regime ( MTCR ) agreement , and thus no DF - 15 has been exported to date . Approximately 300 - 350 DF - 15 ' s are in service with the PLA Second Artillery Corps today . Dongfeng 16 . The DF - 16 is a missile that is newer and has a longer range ( between 800 km and 1 , 000 km ) than the DF - 15 . A Taiwan official announced on March 16 , 2011 that Taiwan believed China had begun deploying the missiles . Dongfeng 21 ( CSS - 5 ) . The DF - 21 is a two - stage , solid - fuel , medium - range ballistic missile ( MRBM ) developed by the 2nd Aerospace Academy ( now China Changfeng Mechanics and Electronics Technology Academy ) in late 1970s . It was the first solid - fueled ballistic missile deployed by the Second Artillery Corp . The missile carries a single 500 kt nuclear warhead , up to 2 , 500 km range . The DF - 21 also served as the basis for the submarine - launched ballistic missile ( SLBM ) JL - 1 ( CSS - N - 3 ) , used on the XIA - Class SSBN . In 1996 , an improved variant , the DF - 21A , was introduced . As of 2010 , 60 - 80 DF - 21 / DF - 21A were estimated to be in service ; this number may have increased since then . Dongfeng 25 . The mobile - launch DF - 25 was a two - stage solid - fuel missile with a range of 1 , 700 kilometers . Development was allegedly cancelled in 1996 , but Jane ' s has published , and the MissileThreat . com has republished , photos of multiple DF - 25s being deployed with their missile canisters erected , suggesting that the DF - 25 may have been deployed , not cancelled . Little more is known about this missile . Dongfeng 31 ( CSS - 10 ) . The DF - 31 is China ' s newest road - mobile , solid - fuel ICBM developed by the 4th Aerospace Academy ( now Academy of Rocket Motor Technology / ARMT ) . The DF - 31 has range of 8 , 000 + km , and can carry a single 1 , 000 kt warhead , or up to three 20 - 150 kt MIRV warheads . An improved version , the DF - 31A , has range of 11 , 000 + km . The DF - 31 was developed to replace many of China ' s older ballistic missiles , and served as basis to the new JL - 2 ( CSS - NX - 4 / CSS - NX - 5 ) SLBM . In 2009 , approx . 30 DF - 31 / DF - 31A are estimated to be in service ; it is possible this number may have increased since then . 12 were displayed at the 2009 military parade in Beijing commemorating the 60th anniversary of the PRC ' s founding . Dongfeng 41 ( CSS - X - 10 ) . Western analysts speculate that China may be developing a next - generation ICBM , known as the DF - 41 , with 12 , 000 - 14 , 000 km range , armed with single , 3 , 6 , or even 10 MIRV warhead s . DF - 41 has yet to be displayed in public .