CSS-1 Dongfeng-2 Ballistic Missile

Go Back to Rocket Artillery

Go Back To Weapons Home

	Weapon: CSS-1 Dongfeng-2 Ballistic Missile Type: Rocket Artillery Country of Origin: China Year Adopted: 1964 Caliber: 20kt Warhead Action: Medium Range Ballistic Missile Overall Length (mm): 20600.0 Weight (kg): 64000.00 Effective Range (m): 1250000

The CSS-1 Dongfeng-2 (DF-2) was an early Chinese intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), developed during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Based on Soviet R-2 missile technology, itself an improved version of the German V-2, the DF-2 was designed to carry a single nuclear warhead over a range of approximately 1,250 kilometers. The missile utilized a single-stage liquid-fueled rocket engine, requiring significant preparation and fueling time prior to launch. Its guidance system, although relatively primitive by modern standards, provided sufficient accuracy for its strategic role during its era.

Production of the DF-2 began in the early 1960s, with a limited number of missiles constructed due to its strategic role and evolving technological advancements. It officially entered service in 1966, forming a critical component of China's nascent nuclear deterrent capability. While exact production figures remain uncertain, estimates suggest that fewer than 100 units were manufactured before the DF-2 was phased out in favor of more advanced systems like the DF-3. The missile was deployed within China and never saw export, reflecting its role as a cornerstone of China's early strategic missile program.

The DF-2 gained notoriety as a symbol of China's determination to establish itself as a nuclear power during the Cold War. It was the platform used to deliver China's first nuclear test in 1966, marking a significant milestone in the country's military and technological development. While operationally obsolete by the late 1970s, the DF-2's historical importance lies in its role in laying the groundwork for China's modern ballistic missile arsenal and strategic deterrence capabilities.