The DF-21, NATO name CSS-5, is a two-stage, solid-fueled, road-mobile medium-range ballistic missile family. It was China's first road-mobile solid-propellant missile and became a foundation for several variants, including nuclear, conventional, and anti-ship ballistic missile roles.
The DF-21 family is notable because it spans several mission sets. DF-21C is commonly associated with conventional land attack, while DF-21D is widely discussed as an anti-ship ballistic missile intended to threaten large surface combatants at range. This makes the family central to China's anti-access and area-denial posture.
The DF-21's strategic weight comes from both actual capability and deterrent messaging. Even uncertainty about anti-ship targeting forces opposing navies to operate farther from contested waters, invest in missile defense, and account for ballistic threats in carrier and amphibious planning.
No analysis & reports about DF-21 (CSS-5)
No discussions about DF-21 (CSS-5) yet
Start the first discussion
