page_title: DF-21
section_title: DF-21D (CSS-5 Mod-4) Anti-ship ballistic missile
hierarchical_section_title: DF-21 / DF-21D (CSS-5 Mod-4) Anti-ship ballistic missile
caption_attribution_description: PLA_ballistic_missiles_range
context_page_description: The Dong-Feng 21 in the Dong Feng series developed by China Changfeng Mechanics and Electronics Technology Academy. Development started in the late 1960s and was completed around 1985–86, but it was not deployed until 1991. It was developed from the submarine-launched JL-1 missile, and is China's first solid-fuel land-based missile. The U.S. Department of Defense in 2008 estimated that China had 60-80 missiles and 60 launchers; approximately 10-11 missiles can be built annually.
  Originally developed as a strategic weapon, the DF-21's later variants were designed for both nuclear and conventional missions. It is thought able to carry a high explosive and submunition warheads, as well as a nuclear warhead of 300 kt. The latest DF-21D was said to be the world's first anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM). The DF-21 has also been developed into a space-capable anti-satellite weapon/anti-missile weapon carrier.
  Though the launcher itself is mobile to reduce vulnerability, an actual launch unit requires support vehicles that can cover a 300×300-meter area, making it hard to move quickly and easier to detect.
caption: Range of various Chinese missiles (2007); DF-21 A/B range in red.
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