Name Origins and Controversies:
In a leaked U.S. secret military report from April 2023, the DF-27 missile was mentioned alongside the designation CSS-X-24. However, the name DF-27 was originally coined by the United States, specifically in the U.S. Department of Defense’s 2021 China Military Power Report. Chinese military experts have labeled it as an imagined weapon created by the United States. Additionally, after the unveiling of the DF-17 hypersonic missile during China’s National Day Parade in 2019, there has been a circulating belief within the Chinese military enthusiast community that a missile combining the advantages of the DF-26 and DF-17, featuring a “waverider” design, has been under development, aligning with the concept of the so-called DF-27. This speculation seemed to be supported by the exposure of an unidentified ballistic missile model in August 2021. Nevertheless, the DF-27 has not received official recognition from the Chinese government to date, and the following features are sourced from U.S. military reports and other sources.
Features:
Range: The DF-27 missile has a range of 5,000 to 8,000 kilometers (3,100 to 5,000 miles), making it a long-range strategic weapon system. Based on trajectory data detected by the U.S., the missile’s range may reach 8,000 kilometers, which could cover Hawaii and certain areas of Australia.
Speed: It achieves hypersonic speeds of approximately Mach 10, demonstrating its advanced capabilities. According to intelligence provided by the U.S., in a test conducted in February of this year, the missile flew over a distance of about 2,100 kilometers in just 12 minutes, reaching an average speed of 8.6 Mach.
Multiple Warhead Configurations: The DF-27 missile is capable of carrying various warhead configurations, enhancing its versatility and effectiveness.
Technological Advancement: The DF-27 missile represents a significant breakthrough in China’s hypersonic missile technology. There are rumors that the Dongfeng-27 (DF-27) missile system directly incorporates the second-stage rocket booster used in the Dongfeng-26 (DF-26) missile. However, the rocket casing material of the DF-27 has been upgraded from steel to aramid fiber (aramid is a type of synthetic fiber). Most importantly, the warhead of the DF-27 is said to be replaced with a hypersonic glide vehicle warhead. With these two improvements, it is rumored that the DF-27 will achieve an approximately 50% increase in range compared to the DF-26. And when equipped with a conventional high-explosive warhead weighing 1.8 tons, the DF-27 will have a maximum range of over 5000 kilometers. However, when carrying a nuclear warhead weighing approximately 0.8 tons, the DF-27’s range can reach around 9000 kilometers.
DF-27A Variant:
The DF-27A is rumored to be an upgraded version of the DF-27 missile system, incorporating advanced technologies and improvements over its predecessor.
Enhanced Range and Accuracy: The DF-27A variant is reported to have improved range and accuracy, further extending its operational capabilities.
Maneuverability: The DF-27A is equipped with enhanced maneuvering capabilities, making it more difficult to intercept and increasing its effectiveness.
Improved Anti-Ship Capabilities: The DF-27A variant features advanced anti-ship capabilities, enhancing its precision and lethality against naval targets.
Strategic Significance:
Range exceeding 8,000 kilometers: With its range surpassing 8,000 kilometers, the DF-27 establishes an extensive military exclusion zone, bolstering national security.
Anti-Ship Capabilities: The DF-27 serves as an anti-ship ballistic missile, equipped with sophisticated guidance systems and maneuvering capabilities for precise targeting of naval vessels.