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China’s DF-5C nuclear ICBM: from ‘east wind’ to counterforce weapon for global strike
While the American Minuteman III has undergone upgrades, the DF-5C represents a more recent technological evolution
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The end of this month’s military parade in Beijing – a time slot traditionally reserved for the People’s Liberation Army’s most lethal nuclear weapon – was marked by a formation of DF-5C missiles, the latest variant of China’s first-ever long-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) DF-5 series.
The PLA’s other latest ICBM systems include the DF-61 and DF-31BJ, as well as the DF-41 – known to be China’s latest ICBM version in service.
The DF-61 and DF-31BJ were also first unveiled in the September 3 Victory Day parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II.
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But the DF-5 series remains a major strategic asset for the PLA Rocket Force.
Its latest variants, with an extended range deemed capable of reaching the entire continental United States, ensure that the DF-5 continues to play a significant role in China’s nuclear deterrence strategy.
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