DF-7 / M-7 / 8610 / CSS-8

The M-7 missile, also known as the "8610 project," has a range of 180 kilometers with a throw-weight of 500 kilograms. It is generally similar to the American "Lance" and the Russian SS-21 missiles. While its range is longer than these missiles, its warhead capacity is somewhat smaller.

Although the other M-series missiles use solid fuel, this missile is derived from the HQ-2 SAM [the Chinese version of the Russia SA-2 GUIDELINE] which uses a storable liquid propellant. As with the other M-series missiles, the M-7's operational preparation time is short, and it is transported by highly-mobile cross- country trucks which have the capacity to launch the missiles.

The HQ-2 was originally designed as a high-altitude SAM, derived from the Soviet SA-2. The total number of HQ-2 missiles produced is unknown, but the HQ-2 is being retired with some being converted to short-range surface-to-surface missile called M-7.

During the 1990s, the PRC sold Iran significant numbers of 90-mile range CSS-8 ballistic missiles, along with associated support equipment. Some believe that Iran may have imported perhaps 200 Chinese CSS-8 (or Tondar-69) SRBMs in the late 1980s, as well as a number of associated launch systems for their operational deployment. China evidently continued to provide ballistic missile components or technologies and related production information to Iran for short-range CSS-8 battlefield missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles.