China's new multi-warhead ICBM among world's most advanced missiles
People's Daily Online
(People's Daily Online) 17:26, June 11, 2018
China's new multi-warhead intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Dongfeng-41 is among the world's most advanced missiles, military expert Shao Yongling recently told People's Daily Online.
According to foreign media, officials from the U.S. Department of Defense revealed China's launch of the Dongfeng -41 intercontinental missile on May 27. The Dongfeng-41 missile launched a number of warheads and hit targets of the Western China range.
Shao said that if the report is true, the Dongfeng-41 is now combat ready.
Currently, China has two major ICBMs, Dongfeng-5 and Dongfeng-31. Dongfeng-5 is a silo-based liquid-propellant missile, and it is able to accommodate multiple re-entry vehicles. Dongfeng-31 is a mobile launcher based missile that is propelled by solid fuel.
According to Shao, the Dongfeng-5 has a larger load and lethality, but responds more slowly because of its liquid-fuel system, and the Dongfeng-31 runs faster but has a lower lethality than the Dongfeng-5.
The new ICBM Dongfeng-41 combines the advantages of the above two missiles, and is able to perform strikes with more precision and efficiency.
Shao said that the independently-targeted multiple warheads can improve lethality and penetration of the missiles, and are able to attack multiple targets simultaneously.
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