{
  "id": "df-21",
  "name": "DF-21",
  "aliases": [
    "CSS-5",
    "Dong Feng-21"
  ],
  "domain": "missile",
  "country": "CHN",
  "category": "Medium-range ballistic missile",
  "status": "in-service",
  "fielded": 1991,
  "operators": [
    "CHN",
    "SAU"
  ],
  "summary": "Two-stage solid-propellant, road-mobile medium-range ballistic missile with nuclear and conventional variants, including the DF-21D anti-ship variant.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "range_max_km",
      "v": 2150,
      "src": [
        "csis-df21"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "note": "DF-21D anti-ship variant: 1,450–1,550 km per U.S. reports cited by CSIS"
    },
    {
      "k": "payload_kg",
      "v": 600,
      "src": [
        "csis-df21"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "launch_weight_kg",
      "v": 14700,
      "src": [
        "csis-df21"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 10.7,
      "src": [
        "csis-df21"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "diameter_m",
      "v": 1.4,
      "src": [
        "csis-df21"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "propulsion",
      "v": "Two-stage solid propellant",
      "src": [
        "csis-df21"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "warhead",
      "v": "250 or 500 kT nuclear, or conventional high-explosive",
      "src": [
        "csis-df21"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "basing",
      "v": "Road-mobile TEL",
      "src": [
        "csis-df21"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-03",
      "change": "Initial draft entry from cited open sources"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-03",
      "change": "Added payload options and capabilities"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-04",
      "change": "Added photo (CC BY-SA 4.0)"
    }
  ],
  "art": "tel",
  "image": {
    "file": "df-21.jpg",
    "thumb": "df-21-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "IceUnshattered",
    "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dongfeng-21D.JPG",
    "title": "File:Dongfeng-21D.JPG"
  },
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "DF-21 nuclear",
      "role": "Strategic/theater nuclear delivery",
      "src": [
        "csis-df21"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "range_km": 2150,
      "caps": {
        "Payload": "600 kg",
        "Warhead": "250 or 500 kT nuclear"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "DF-21 conventional",
      "role": "Conventional strike",
      "src": [
        "csis-df21"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "range_km": 2150,
      "caps": {
        "Warhead": "Conventional high-explosive"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "DF-21D",
      "role": "Anti-ship ballistic missile",
      "src": [
        "csis-df21"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "range_km": [
        1450,
        1550
      ],
      "caps": {
        "Warhead": "Conventional"
      },
      "note": "Range per U.S. reports cited by CSIS"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/df-21.html",
  "sources": {
    "csis-df21": {
      "title": "DF-21 (CSS-5)",
      "publisher": "CSIS Missile Defense Project",
      "url": "https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/df-21/",
      "published": "2024-04-23",
      "tier": 2,
      "checked": "2026-10-03"
    }
  }
}