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The Chinese DF-5 missile
Norbert
Brügge, Germany
The Dong Feng-5 (DF-5) is an intercontinental
ballistic missile (ICBM). The two-stage, liquid-propellant missile has
a range of 10,000 - 13,000 km. It has also been developed into the Chang
Zheng-2 (CZ-2) space launch vehicle.
The DF-5 was designed and developed by the Beijing-based China Academy
of Launch Vehicle Technology (1st Academy), and built by the Capital Aerospace
Machinery Corporation (Plant 211). A second DF-5 production facility known
as the Sichuan Aerospace Industry Corporation (Base 062) is located in
Chengdu, Sichuan Province.
The DF-5 powered by a liquid bipropellant, with unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine
(UDMH) as fuel and nitrogen tetroxide (N2H4) as an oxidiser. The first-stage
consists of four parallel 75t-thrust YF-20 chambers motors with swinging
nozzles. The second-stage utilises a 75t-thrust YF-22 motor with a fixed
nozzle, and a swiveling vernier motor with four 4.8t-thrust YF-23 chambers,
which were designed for steering and sustaining propulsion for a further
190 seconds after the shutting of the main motor, and enabling a wide
aiming arc for the re-entry vehicles in the upper atmosphere. The propellant
tank of the missile was made of high-strength, lightweight aluminium-cooper
alloy. The re-entry vehicle is fitted with a heat shield made of carbon/quartz
materials.
The programme definition phase began in May 1966. The development of the
first-stage rocket motor was completed on 14 June 1969. The design of
the missile was completed in June 1970. The ground test of the rocket
motor succeeded in November 1970. The first test missile �Batch-01-Y1′
rolled out in June 1971.
The first flight test of the DF-5 (batch-01) in September 1971
from the Jiuquan missile test range was only partially successful. The
second missile was launched in November 1972, but two of the four rocket
motors failed to ignite, causing an emergent shut down. The same missile
was launched again in April 1973 but it exploded in the midair.
Following two failed flight tests. Then the DF-5 programme was stopped
in October 1973. The remaining four missiles of the same design were all
converted into the CZ-2 space launch vehicles to support the recoverable
satellite programme. On 5 November 1974, the first CZ-2 carrying a JSSW
recoverable capsule was launched from Jiuquan, but the rocket lost control
shortly after the launch.
In May 1975 the development of the DF-5 again resumed. China Academy of
Launch Vehicle (CALT) modified the design of the rocket�s first-stage
in order to improve its reliability. From November 1975 to January 1978,
three consecutive launches of the CZ-2 with FSW recoverable capsule were
all successful. The first successful depressed trajectory (DT) flight
test of the DF-5 (batch-02) missile was conducted successfully
in October 1978. Six subsequent launches between January and October 1979
were all successful. Some of these launches were conducted from underground
silos.
The full-range flight test of the missile was approved in September 1977,
and the order for proceeding with the test was issued on 12 February 1980.
Preparation for the test began in March. On 18 May 1980, a DF-5 (codename:
580A) was launched from the Jiuquan launch site. After flying for 29 minutes
and 57 seconds over a distance of 9,070 km, the missile�s re-entry vehicle
hit its targeted landing in the South Pacific. A second missile (codename:
580B) was launched on 21 May. However, the second-stage of the missile
was shut down 6.4 seconds early, resulting in the missile�s re-entry vehicle
missing its targeted landing spot. The last pre-deployment flight test
of the DF-5 took place on 7 December 1981, with a modified DF-5 launched
from a silo at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre for a high-ballistic
flight test. |
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211 Factory and Base 062 produced
a total of 16 DF-5 (batch-02) missiles for various flight test between
1978 and 1981. Of it 8 missiles fired and 2 delivered for operational
deployment. The remaining missiles were converted into the CZ-2C for the
FSW satellite launches. In July 1986, the nuclear warhead of the DF-5
was certified for design finalisation. On 16 December 1986, the DF-5 received
its certificate for design finalisation.
Between 1987 and 1989, Base 062 produced five DF-5 (batch-03) missiles
for operational deployment. One of the missiles was test fired in the
autumn of 1989. This was also the last known DF-5 test. The remaining
missiles were reportedly upgraded to the DF-5A standard in the early 1990s.
The batch 04 of eight missiles were produced by Base 062 in 1994
- 1995, possibly in the improved DF-5A design.
DF-5 has a maximum range of 9,000 - 10,000 km, and DF-5A has an extended
range of over 13,000 km.
Source: Sinodefence.com
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Vehicle type
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Launch date
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Launch site
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Mission
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DF-5
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Batch-01
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10.09.1971
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Jiuquan
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R&D
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xx.11.1971
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Failure |
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xx.04.1973
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Failure |
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05.11.1974
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JSSW
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Failure |
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DF-5
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Batch-02
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xx.10.1978
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Jiuquan
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R&D
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07.01.1979
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15.07.1979
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21.08.1979
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04.09.1979
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26.11.1979
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18.05.1980
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21.05.1980
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Failure |
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07.12.1981
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Taiyuan (Silo)
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R &D
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