DF-17 hypersonic missile

[ANGMAR]

the DF-17 (Dong Feng-17) is a Chinese medium-range missile system equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle. U.S. officials first confirmed the existence of DF-17 prototypes (DF-ZF/Wu-14) in 2014.

DF-17 at a Glance​

Originated From: China
Possessed By: China
Class: Medium-range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) / Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV)
Basing: Road-mobile
Length: 11 m
Launch Weight: 15,000 kg
Payload: Conventional or nuclear
Speed: Mach 5-10 (1.72-3.43 km/s)
Range: 1,800-2,500 km
Status: Operational

DF-17 Development​

China has invested significant resources in the DF-17 and its other hypersonic weapon programs. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has reportedly done so to counter adversary missile defenses, as well as to develop a fast, long-range, high-precision strike capability that “leaves enemies with little time to react.”1While slower than a conventional ballistic reentry vehicle, HGVs’ higher maneuverability and lower-altitude flight make them harder to track and predict their flight path, challenging legacy ballistic missile defense systems.

In 2018, one U.S. official noted that China had conducted around 20 times the number of hypersonic weapons tests as the United States had in the preceding decade.
China’s 10th Research Institute is responsible for developing the DF-17 and other Chinese HGVs. Also known as the “Near Space Flight Vehicle Research Institute,” the organization operates under the China Aerospace Science Industry Corporation (CASIC) 1st Academy. U.S. officials confirmed the DF-17’s existence in 2014, identifying it as the Wu-14 News media later identified the missile as the DF-ZF – likely an early Chinese designation Between January 2014 and November 2017, China conducted at least nine flight tests of the DF-17. Tests took place at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi Province.

DF-17 Flight Tests
January 9, 2014	First test launch.	Aviation Week
August 7, 2014	Failed test, missile broke up soon after launch.	Arms Control Wonk
December 2, 2014	Successful test.	The Washington Free Beacon
June 7, 2015	Apparent success, U.S. official noted the vehicle took “extreme maneuvers.”	East Pendulum
August 19, 2015	Apparent success, U.S. official noted the vehicle took “evasive actions.”	The Washington Free Beacon
November 23, 2015	Successful, with the HGV reaching a speed “beyond Mach 5.”	IHS Jane’s
April 22, 2016	Successful test.	The Washington Free Beacon
November 1, 2017	Flew approx. 1,400 km over 11 minutes, with the HGV flying at a depressed altitude of around 60 km.	The Diplomat
November 15, 2017	Employed DF-17 to boost HGV to apogee.	The Diplomat

Specifications​

The DF-17 is solid-fueled, measures around 11 m in length, and weighs around 15,000 kg.6 The DF-17’s booster appears to be the same as that used for China’s DF-16 ballistic missile. Its accompanying DF-ZF HGV reportedly reaches speeds of Mach 5-10 (1.72-3.43 km/s) in its glide phase.7 U.S. intelligence assessments suggest that the DF-17 possesses a range between 1,800 and 2,500 km.8 Although Chinese commentators have emphasized the DF-17’s conventional mission, the missile may alternatively equip nuclear warheads.9

The DF-17 has demonstrated a high degree of accuracy in testing, with one U.S. government official saying a test warhead “within meters” of its intended, stationary target. U.S. defense officials have also said the DF-ZF HGV performed “extreme maneuvers” and “evasive actions” in previous test flights.

Some reports suggest China could develop the DF-17 into a second-generation antiship ballistic missile (ASBM), further enabling China’s strategy to deter U.S. regional intervention.In January 2019, PLA officials claimed to have an antiship DF-17 variant under development.

DF-17 Service History​

The DF-17’s status remains unclear. Its appearance in China’s October 2019 military parade, however, has raised speculation that it may have entered PLA service
https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/df-17/

 

[Cabatli_TR]

We don’t know the actual capabilities of this system but It is a real game changer. I hope Chinese government will allow institute to release a test video about it.