How China’s DF-5C nuclear ICBM can reach anywhere at any time

The showstopper of China’s military parade in Beijing last week was a liquid-fuel intercontinental strategic nuclear missile known as the DF-5C. As the new system was unveiled on three heavy-lift transport vehicles, the official commentary emphasised that it was “always on alert and capable of striking anywhere in the world”. Liquid-fuel rockets have a long range but they take time to fuel and cannot be stored for long periods after fuelling – unlike solid-fuel missiles such as America’s Minuteman III. But military experts say the DF-5C has made progress in these areas. Its rocket nozzles are apparently protected by membrane-like materials, an upgrade from its predecessor the DF-5B, suggesting a leap forward in fuel storage technology that allows the missile to stand for long periods in a silo “ready to launch any time”, said a defence expert in Beijing who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. “In the past, some in Washington had to give China’s nuclear deterrence capabilities the benefit of doubt,” he said. “The close-up shots [of the DF-5C] during this military parade appear to have been specifically provided to dispel that doubt.” The main advantage of liquid-fuel missiles is their large payloads. For the same volume, they can carry more fuel, heavier warheads or multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles than solid-fuel missiles. But traditional liquid propellants are highly unstable. For example, nitrogen tetroxide and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine are extremely toxic and corrosive, while liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen are highly volatile at room temperature. The fuelling process is also complex and hazardous. Hydrazine-based fuels and nitrogen tetroxide are not only toxic but also prone to leakage, posing serious environmental and safety risks. Liquid oxygen must be stored at minus 180 degrees Celsius (minus 292 degrees Fahrenheit), and liquid hydrogen at an even lower minus 250 degrees Celsius (minus 418 degrees Fahrenheit). These extreme temperatures can make metal materials brittle, and the vapourisation of these fuels at room temperature can cause dangerous pressure build-up in storage tanks. Even a small leak of hydrogen can mix with air to form a highly explosive mixture. Due to these risks – volatility, flammability and potential leakage – liquid-fuel missiles are typically stored with empty fuel tanks. Propellants are loaded only shortly before launch, a time-consuming process that increases preparation time, raises the risk of detection by satellite surveillance, and slows strategic response. To ensure real-time responsiveness, solid-fuel missiles have traditionally been preferred. They offer both launch-on-demand capability and high mobility, making them suitable for rapid response to nuclear threats. That is believed to be the case with the DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missile, which was also unveiled at the parade. But the large payload and extended range of the DF-5C makes it strategically valuable. Its apparently “always ready” capability suggests China may have achieved a breakthrough in rapid-fuelling technology, or developed new fuel combinations and tank materials that allow the missile to remain fully fuelled and launch-ready at all times. During the live broadcast of the parade, state-run CCTV aired an unusual four-second close-up of the DF-5C’s engine nozzles. It showed the four nozzles surrounded by a silver-grey flexible material that was possibly silicone or composite rubber. Military analysts speculated that they could be a new generation of “flexible extendable nozzles”, which would help absorb ignition shock, protect the missile body, reduce infrared signature and simplify maintenance. Liquid-fuel ICBMs like the DF-5C offer significant strategic advantages, including extended range and heavy payload capacity. When deployed in hardened silos, they provide a critical second-strike capability ensuring nuclear retaliation can take place even after an attack – a key part of deterrence. China adheres to a “no first use” nuclear policy. The DF-5C’s apparent ability to be ready at all times combined with its global strike capacity represents an upgrade from a reactive posture where a first strike would be absorbed before retaliation can take place. Instead it suggests a real-time deterrence model with the ability to retaliate at any time, against any target, worldwide. The DF-5C is the latest in the Dongfeng-5 series, China’s first ICBM, which successfully completed a test launch in 1980. The latest missile is an upgrade of the DF-5B, which was unveiled a decade ago. Several countries have developed and deployed liquid-fuel ICBMs, such as the Russian Sarmat heavy ICBM which weighs more than 200 tonnes and can carry multiple warheads, including hypersonic glide vehicles. President Vladimir Putin said in June 2023 that it would enter service soon. According to open-source estimates, the DF-5C is believed to carry up to 10 multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles and to have a range of more than 20,000km (12,400 miles). The Cold-War-era Minuteman III is estimated to have capacity for three MIRVs and a range of about 13,000km (8,000 miles).

How China’s DF-5C nuclear ICBM can reach anywhere at any time

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}A close-up of the new long-range missile during last week’s military parade in Beijing suggests a leap forward in fuel storage technology

A close-up of the new long-range missile during last week’s military parade in Beijing suggests a leap forward in fuel storage technology