The DF-3A is a Chinese liquid-fueled, single-stage, medium-range nuclear ballistic missile

Ballistic missile

A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flightpath with the objective of delivering one or more warheads to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during the relatively brief initial powered phase of flight and its course is subsequently governed by the...

 that entered service in 1971. DF-3A is the oldest missile in China's inventory and is nearing retirement after four decades of service.

It is currently being retired and was inaccurately predicted to have been removed from China's missile arsenal in 2002. In 1987 China sold several dozen (reportedly between 36 and 60) outmoded DF-3 missiles to Saudi Arabia, minus their nuclear warheads.

History

Deployment of the missile began in 1971 reaching a peak of 110 by 1984, then shrinking to 50 in 1993. It is estimated by the U.S. DoD that there are 17 missiles and 10 launchers in operation as of 2010 under a single brigade. The DF-21

DF-21

The Dong-Feng 21 is a two-stage, solid-propellant, single-warhead medium-range ballistic missile developed by China Changfeng Mechanics and Electronics Technology Academy. Development started in the late 1960s and was completed around 1985-86, but it was not deployed until 1991...

will replace these missiles as they retire.