China Increases Production of Launchers for DF-26 Ballistic Missiles
27 October, 2024 Self-propelled launchers with DF-26 ballistic missiles. Photo: China News China is increasing the production of Dong Feng-26 ballistic missile launchers, which are used, in particular, as part of coastal anti-ship systems.
This was reported by Janes journalists, who reviewed satellite images of a facility producing self-propelled launchers. Satellite images show 59 launchers at the Beijing Xinghang production site, which indicates a significant increase in production. In addition, the Janes notes that during 2023-2024, the plant assembled at least 72 missile launchers.
DF-26 TEL at the Beijing-Xinhang production site.
Photo credits: Janes
The number of launchers revealed in 2024 will allow the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force to staff 36 new brigades aimed at using their systems against both land and surface targets. The DF-26 system, according to Chinese officials, is capable of hitting surface targets, which will significantly expand their capabilities in confronting the U.S. Navy.
In April 2021, Colonel Wu Qian, director of the Ministry of National Defense Information Bureau and spokesman, announced that a version of the missile capable of attacking surface ships had passed all tests and was adopted. American experts and intelligence claim that a missile from this system can fly about 4,500 km, while with a warhead weighing 1.6 tons--4,000 km. U.S. intelligence also notes that from 2018 to 2024, China produced more than 250 DF-26 missile systems.
This range allows China to use the missiles for a potential strike on the territory of Guam, where the United States deploys its strategic bombers. In addition, the expansion of the missile arsenal is also reported by U.S. intelligence, which indicates that China is creating new and expanding existing strategic units to deploy an increasingly large arsenal of nuclear weapons.
The Chinese army is expanding its strategic forces to support its arsenal in the following way:
- It has deployed about 300 silo launchers for DF-31 and DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
- Additional brigades equipped with nuclear and non-nuclear DF-26 ICBM launchers are being created.
- New mobile ICBM brigades are being created with an increase in the number of launchers from 6 to 12 units per brigade.
According to intelligence estimates, by 2030, China will increase its nuclear arsenal to more than 1,000 nuclear warheads.
Most of them will be in the form of a growing number of ICBMs capable of hitting the continental United States.