http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DF-21
The Dong-Feng 21 (DF-21; NATO reporting name CSS-5 - Dong-Feng literally means “East Wind”) is a two-stage, solid-propellant, single-warhead medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) developed by China Changfeng Mechanics and Electronics Technology Academy. Development started in the late 1960s, and was completed around 1985-86 but was not deployed until 1991. It was developed from the JL-1 missile launched from submarines and is China’s first solid-fuel land-based missile. The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that China has 60-80 missiles, and 60 launchers.
Originally developed for strategic purposes, the DF-21’s later variants were designed for both nuclear and conventional missions. As well as a nuclear warhead of around 300kt, it is thought that high explosive, submunition and chemical warheads are also available. The latest DF-21D was said to be the world’s first and only anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM). The DF-21 has also been developed into space launcher and anti-satellite/anti-missile weapon carrier.
DF-21D (CSS-5 Mod-4) Anti-ship ballistic missile
The US Department of Defense has stated that China is developing a conventionally-armed[9] high hypersonic[1] land-based anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) based on the DF-21,[10] with a range of up to 3,000 km (1,900 mi). This would be the world’s first and only ASBM and the world’s first weapons system capable of targeting a moving aircraft carrier strike group from long-range, land-based mobile launchers.[11][12] These would combine manoeuvrable reentry vehicles (MaRVs) with some kind of terminal guidance system. Such a missile may have been tested in 2005-6, and the launch of the Jianbing-5/YaoGan-1 and Jianbing-6/YaoGan-2 satellites would give the Chinese targeting information from SAR and visual imaging respectively. The upgrades would greatly enhance China’s ability to conduct sea-denial operations to prevent US carriers from intervention in the Taiwan Strait.[13]
China has recently launched a series of satellites to support its ASBM efforts:[citation needed]
* Yaogan-VII electro-optical satellite - 9 December 2009
* Yaogan-VIII synthetic aperture radar satellite - 14 December 2009
* Yaogan-IX Naval Ocean Surveillance System (NOSS) constellation (3 satellites in formation) - 5 March 2010.[14]
[The Dong-Feng 21 (DF-21; NATO reporting name CSS-5 - Dong-Feng literally means “East Wind”)]
Breaking wind from the East..