What is the DF-41 missile? #Missile #military #army #navy #airforce #China #DF41 #nuclearWeapons

The #Dongfeng-41 is a fourth-generation #Chinese solid-fuelled road-mobile #intercontinental ballistic missile operated by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (formerly the Second Artillery Corps). DF-41 is the fourth and the latest generation of the Dongfeng series strategic missiles developed by China. The missile was officially unveiled at the China National Day military parade on 1 October 2019.
The missile reportedly has an operational range between 12,000 to 15,000 kilometres (7,500 to 9,300 mi). It is believed to have a top speed of Mach 25, and to be capable of MIRV delivery (up to 10). The development of the #MIRV technology is reported to be in response to the deployment of the United States national missile defense system which degrades China's nuclear deterrence capability. The project started in 1986, and may now be coupled with the JL-2 program.
Though there have been reports that the DF-41 can carry 6 to 10 #warheads, analysts think it most likely carries only three warheads, with the additional payload used for many penetration aids.
Richard Fisher, an expert on #Asia-Pacific military affairs, says that a typical PLA Rocket Force unit has 6-12 missile launchers and may have an additional 6-12 "reload missiles", i.e. missiles to be launched after the first missile with which the launcher is equipped are launched, indicating 12-24 DF-41 missiles per unit. If a missile had 10 warheads, that would give a single SAC unit the capability to target the contiguous United States with 120-240 nuclear warheads.