Missile Dongfeng DF-15 / CSS-6

The Dong-Feng 15 (DF-15), a short-range ballistic missile, commenced development in 1985, with its finalized design receiving approval in 1987. Early testing took place in the Gobi Desert from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s. The missile was first publicly displayed in 1986, and its deployment by the Second Artillery Corps allegedly began the following year. This system officially entered service in 1990 and remains in operation. Attempts were made to export the missile in 1989, though these efforts were later curtailed under external pressure.

The DF-15 is a versatile short-range ballistic missile, propelled by a single-stage solid-propellant rocket. Its launch from a road-mobile Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) provides significant operational flexibility. For guidance, it employs an advanced system combining astro-inertial navigation, incorporating a ring-laser gyroscope, with augmentation from the Beidou satellite system. Upon separation, the missile's warhead, considerably smaller than the missile body, trails behind the larger section to mask its trajectory, achieving terminal velocities over Mach 6. This missile can deliver both conventional and nuclear warheads, with nuclear options covering a broad yield spectrum. Further capabilities are present in its variants. The DF-15A enhances precision through control fins on the missile and its reentry vehicle, complemented by GPS updates and terminal radar guidance. The DF-15B variant represents a further upgrade, featuring an active radar seeker, laser rangefinder, and a maneuverable reentry vehicle. A notable specialized variant, the DF-15C, is a bunker buster designed with a deep-penetration warhead. This variant is specifically engineered to neutralize hardened targets such as fortified command centers and air force bases.