DF-15
Encyclopedia
The Dong-Feng 15 is a short-range ballistic missile developed by the People's Republic of China. It is the only non-nuclear missile being used by the People's Liberation Army
Second Artillery Corps
. The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that China has 315-355 missiles, and 90-110 launchers.
. The first public display of the missile took place at the Beijing Defense Exposition in 1988. The SAC had allegedly deployed a small number of the missiles the following year.
(TEL). The missile's trajectory is guided using small thrusters and an inertial guidance system on the warhead. The warhead is only a tenth of the size of the missile body. After the body and warhead separate, the body trails behind to camouflage the warhead. The terminal velocity
of the missile is over Mach 6.
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
Second Artillery Corps
Second Artillery Corps
The Second Artillery Corps is the strategic missile forces of the People's Republic of China. The SAC is the component of the People's Liberation Army that controls China's nuclear ballistic and conventional missiles. China's total nuclear arsenal size is estimated to be about 240 nuclear weapons...
. The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that China has 315-355 missiles, and 90-110 launchers.
History
Development on the DF-15 began in 1985 with a finalized design proposal being approved by the PLA in 1987. From the late 1980s to the mid 1990s, testing of the missile was done in the Gobi DesertGobi Desert
The Gobi is a large desert region in Asia. It covers parts of northern and northwestern China, and of southern Mongolia. The desert basins of the Gobi are bounded by the Altai Mountains and the grasslands and steppes of Mongolia on the north, by the Hexi Corridor and Tibetan Plateau to the...
. The first public display of the missile took place at the Beijing Defense Exposition in 1988. The SAC had allegedly deployed a small number of the missiles the following year.
Description
The DF-15 uses a solid fuel, single-stage rocket. It is vertically launched from an eight wheeled transporter erector launcherTransporter erector launcher
A transporter erector launcher is a vehicle with an integrated prime mover that can carry, elevate to firing position and launch one or more missiles. Such vehicles exist for both surface-to-air missiles and surface-to-surface missiles...
(TEL). The missile's trajectory is guided using small thrusters and an inertial guidance system on the warhead. The warhead is only a tenth of the size of the missile body. After the body and warhead separate, the body trails behind to camouflage the warhead. The terminal velocity
Terminal velocity
In fluid dynamics an object is moving at its terminal velocity if its speed is constant due to the restraining force exerted by the fluid through which it is moving....
of the missile is over Mach 6.