Missile Dongfeng DF-15 (CH-SS-6)

Development of the DF-15 began in 1985, with the design proposal receiving approval in 1987. Testing occurred in the Gobi Desert between the late 1980s and mid-1990s. The system entered service in 1990 following its initial public appearance at the 1986 Beijing Defense Exposition.

The DF-15 is a single-stage, solid-fuel short-range ballistic missile launched vertically from an eight-wheeled transporter erector launcher. The missile employs an inertial guidance system supplemented by small thrusters on the warhead for trajectory control. Subsequent variants integrate astro-inertial guidance with ring-laser gyroscopes, Beidou and GPS satellite updates, and terminal radar guidance. During the terminal phase, the warhead separates from the missile body, which trails the payload to serve as a decoy. The system reaches terminal velocities exceeding Mach 6.

Warhead options include conventional payloads and nuclear configurations with yields between 50 and 350 kilotons. The DF-15A variant utilizes control fins on the reentry vehicle for improved guidance. The DF-15B incorporates an active radar seeker, laser rangefinder, and a maneuverable reentry vehicle. The DF-15C is a specialized variant equipped with a deep-penetration warhead designed for strikes against hardened targets such as underground command centers and reinforced air force installations.

The missile is operated by China and is widely deployed. The Second Artillery Corps initially deployed the system in the late 1980s. In 1989, Libya agreed to finance the Syrian purchase of the M-9 export variant, but the sale was cancelled in 1991 following diplomatic pressure from the United States. The system's operational reach includes regional targets such as the Japanese archipelago, United States military facilities in Okinawa, and the Indian capital.