Missile Dongfeng DF-26 (CH-SS-18)
Summary
| NATO Designation | CH-SS-18 |
| Category | Ballistic Missiles |
| Sub-type | Intermediate-range ballistic missile |
| Origin country | 🇨🇳 China |
| Manufacturer | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation |
| Status | In service |
| Year of service | 2016 |
Technical specifications
| Warhead | Thermonuclear and conventional |
| Warhead weight | 1800 kg (3,968 lb) |
| Range | 5,000 km (3,107 mi) |
| Max. speed | 22,226 km/h (Mach 22.2) |
Dongfeng DF-26 scale diagram
Operators
Description
The DF-26 was officially revealed during the 2015 China Victory Day Parade. United States intelligence indicates the system was first fielded in 2016, and the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force confirmed its active service status in April 2018.
The system is a road-mobile, solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile configured for both land-attack and anti-ship roles. It utilizes a mobile launch platform and is capable of delivering either thermonuclear or conventional warheads. The missile is designed for precision strikes against ground targets and naval vessels, including maritime installations as distant as Guam. Guidance systems and terminal-stage sensors are refined through testing at a facility in the Taklamakan Desert, which employs full-scale mock-ups of naval assets, including aircraft carriers and destroyers. Some of these targets are rail-mounted to simulate the movement of ships at sea.
The People's Liberation Army Rocket Force is the operator of the DF-26, which is widely deployed. While the system has not been used in combat, it has been utilized in live-fire test events. On August 26, 2020, a DF-26B was launched into the South China Sea between Hainan and the Paracel Islands. This launch occurred following the presence of a United States U-2 aircraft in a Chinese-designated no-fly zone during naval exercises. Identified variants include the DF-26, DF-26B, and the DF-26D, the latter of which was unveiled at a 2025 military parade.