DF-4
Missile · China
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Chinese intermediate range ballistic missile. Development of the DF-4 began in 1964 with the objective of fielding a ballistic missile capable of hitting Guam. The technical solution was to add a second stage to the DF-3 IRBM.
The two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x DF3-YF2A + 1 x DF4-YF3. It would form the basis of the CZ-1 satellite launch vehicle.
Maximum range: 4,760 km (2,950 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 1. Warhead yield: 3,300 KT. CEP: 1.19 km (0.73 mi). Boost Propulsion: Storable liquid rocket, Nitric acid/UDMH. Initial Operational Capability: 1981. Total Number Built: 10.
Subtopics
- CZ-7/YZ1A Null
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DF-4
Chronology
20 events
Early 1962
LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: DF-4.- Chinese project management - . Nation: China. Related Persons: Tsien. Tsien introduced a computer tool for management of Chinese aerospace development projects analogous to the American PERT program..
1964 September 12
LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: DF-1, DF-3 Tsien, DF-4.- Chinese missiles redesignated and new development plan adopted. - .
Nation: China.
Related Persons: Tsien.
Program: Long March.
Tsien had conducted a series of meetings with the Chinese leadership during the year to redefine China's missile development plans. There are clashes between Tsien, who favours an American engineering approach, and his staff, who were trained in Russian and favour the Soviet approach. Finally the missiles were defined by their target objectives, and a new development plan was adopted, with definite goals. The 1059 missile (copy of Russian R-2) was redesignated DF-1. The DF-2 was to be improved to carry an atomic bomb to a range sufficient to hit Japan. The DF-3 ICBM was cancelled, and the new DF-3 project would involve development of a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the Philippines (earlier referred to as the DF-1). The DF-4 was to be capable of hitting Guam, and the DF-5 would be an ICBM capable of reaching the United States. The DF-2, DF-3 and DF-4 would use strap-down accelerometer guidance packages, while the DF-5 was to be equipped with a full-fledged inertial guidance unit.
1966 January 4
LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: DF-4.- Chinese ICBM plans - . Nation: China. Related Persons: Tsien. Tsien proposes to add electronic countermeasures and other penetration aids to the DF-5 ICBM in order to defeat the planned American ABM system..
1969 November 16
Launch Site: Jiuquan. LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: DF-4.1970 January 30
Launch Site: Jiuquan. Launch Complex: Jiuquan LA2A. LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: DF-4.- R&D (Minfeng target) - . Nation: China. Agency: MAI. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). First test of prototype DF-3 (perhaps same configuration as CZ-1); not deployed..
1970 November 23
Launch Site: Jingyu. LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: DF-4.1971 November 15
Launch Site: Jianshui. LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: DF-4.1976 May 14
21:55 GMT - . Launch Site: Jiuquan. LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: DF-4.1976 June 1
Launch Site: Jiuquan. Launch Complex: Jiuquan. LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: DF-4.- Date uncertain. First test of DF-4. - . Nation: China. Program: Long March.
1976 August 24
22:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Jiuquan. LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: DF-4.1977 September 30
Launch Site: Jiuquan. LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: DF-4.1977 November 22
Launch Site: Jiuquan. LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: DF-4.1980 February 9
Launch Site: Jiuquan. LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: DF-4.1980 August 2
15:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Jiuquan. LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: DF-4.1980 August 15
Launch Site: Jingyu. Launch Complex: Jingyu. LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: DF-4.- First DF-4 test from Jingyu. - . Nation: China. Program: Long March. First launch from Jingyu test site..
1980 October 15
Launch Site: Jingyu. Launch Complex: Jingyu. LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: DF-4.- Second DF-4 test from Jingyu. - . Nation: China. Program: Long March.