A photo of a new Chinese ballistic missile undergoing training was recently circulated on the Internet. The ballistic missiles in the photo are different from any previously announced missiles of China rocket force and may be the legendary new DF-27 ballistic missile, which belongs to the same third-generation of China’s strategic nuclear weapons as the DF-41.
According to previous estimates, the DF-27 has a range comparable to that of the DF-4 or DF-4A, at 4,500 km to 7,000 km, and is likely to carry a hypersonic warhead being developed and tested to strike the U.S. mainland or a Hawaii naval base. The ballistic missile shown in the photo, however, uses a hypersonic glide combat section similar to that of the DF-17, but with a longer body than the latter, implying a longer range.
In addition, a photo that appeared in 2014 was also speculated to be a DF-27 ballistic missile, which Chinese media reported on March 3, 2014, citing the Washington Free Beacon website as a new medium-range nuclear missile developed by China known as the Dongfeng-26C (DF-26C), allegedly confirmed by some U.S. intelligence agency. However, the missile in that image does not appear to have a hypersonic glide warhead.
In any case, China’s leaking of its new hypersonic ballistic missile at this time is presumably intended to counter recent aggressive posturing by the U.S.-led West against China and to warn them not to interfere in China’s internal affairs.