China's new Dong Feng-31 (CSS-9) road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is expected to enter service during 2006, followed by the extended-range DF-31A version in 2007, said the 2006 edition of the US Department of Defense's (DoD's) annual report on Chinese military capabilities. Both missiles will enter service with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Second Artillery.
The PLA Second Artillery still deploys approximately 20 silo-based, liquid-propellant DF-5 (CSS-4) ICBMs, its primary strategic weapon capable of holding continental US targets at risk, plus approximately 20 liquid-propellant limited-range DF-4 (CSS-3) ICBMs that enable it to attack targets in the Asia region.
The operational debut of the new JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is expected some time between 2007 and 2010. Due to be deployed on the new Jin-class (Type 094) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), it will provide China with an additional, survivable nuclear option.
According to the US report, China will deploy 'several new conventional and nuclear variants of MRBMs [medium-range ballistic missiles] and IRBMs [intermediate-range ballistic missiles] for regional contingencies and to augment its long-range missile forces'.
First- and second-generation land-attack cruise missiles (LACMs) remain under development in order to provide greater precision for hard-target strikes than has been historically available from ballistic missiles. These LACMs are conventionally armed, but once development has been completed, there will be no technological problems to prevent the creation of nuclear-armed variants.
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