China Central Television (CCTV) aired a documentary last week featuring the People's Liberation Army, which included a segment on the DF-100 supersonic cruise missile.

The video shows a DF-100 battery, consisting of multiple launch vehicles, command vehicles, and communication vehicles, moving in an undisclosed location. Soldiers prepare the launch platform, input target data, and fire a missile, which rapidly ascends.

The DF-100 missile's image is blurred, but the warhead appears conical to maintain supersonic speed. Its tail fins are larger than similar missiles, suggesting high velocity and maneuverability.

This is a rare glimpse of the DF-100 since its 2019 debut. Previous appearances featured blurred imagery, hindering analysis of its specifications and operating principles.

Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center in the US, suggests the test occurred in a simulated urban environment to demonstrate the DF-100's mobility. "If the missile can be launched near urban areas, it's more difficult for adversaries to locate, identify, target, and destroy," she said.

The launch confirms the DF-100's three-stage propulsion: a solid-fuel booster, a ramjet engine for sustained supersonic cruise, and a final stage for a terminal speed boost.

The DF-100 missile at a military parade in Beijing in 2019. Image: AFP

At the Zhuhai Airshow in 11/2024, Chinese officials revealed some DF-100 specifications: a 3,000-4,000 km range, a cruise speed of 4,900 km/h (Mach 4), and the ability to hit moving and stationary targets. This makes it one of China's most powerful "carrier killers."

According to Chinese media, the DF-100 is the only land-based cruise missile that can maintain Mach 4 throughout its flight. It reportedly uses inertial navigation, satellite positioning, and terrain contour matching for meter-level accuracy.

Pham Giang (via Eurasian Times)