DF-4

Development of the DF-4 began in 1964 with the objective of fielding a ballistic missile capable of hitting Guam. The technical solution was to add a second stage to the DF-3 IRBM.

The two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x DF3-YF2A + 1 x DF4-YF3. It would form the basis of the CZ-1 satellite launch vehicle.

Manufacturer: CALT. Liftoff Thrust: 1,224.000 kN (275,166 lbf). Total Mass: 82,000 kg (180,000 lb). Core Diameter: 2.25 m (7.38 ft). Total Length: 28.05 m (92.02 ft). Span: 2.74 m (8.98 ft). Standard warhead mass: 2,190 kg (4,820 lb). Maximum range: 4,760 km (2,950 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 1. Standard warhead yield: 3,300 KT. Standard warhead CEP: 1.19 km (0.73 mi). Boost Propulsion: Storable liquid rocket, Nitric acid/UDMH. Guidance: Inertial. Total Number Built: 10.

Early 1962 - Launch Vehicle: DF-4.

• Chinese project management Nation: China. Tsien introduced a computer tool for management of Chinese aerospace development projects analogous to the American PERT program.

• Chinese missiles redesignated and new development plan adopted. Nation: China. Program: Long March. Tsien had conducted a series of meetings with the Chinese leadership during the year to redefine China's missile development plans. There are clashes between Tsien, who favours an American engineering approach, and his staff, who were trained in Russian and favour the Soviet approach. Finally the missiles were defined by their target objectives, and a new development plan was adopted, with definite goals. The 1059 missile (copy of Russian R-2) was redesignated DF-1. The DF-2 was to be improved to carry an atomic bomb to a range sufficient to hit Japan. The DF-3 ICBM was cancelled, and the new DF-3 project would involve development of a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the Philippines (earlier referred to as the DF-1). The DF-4 was to be capable of hitting Guam, and the DF-5 would be an ICBM capable of reaching the United States. The DF-2, DF-3 and DF-4 would use strap-down accelerometer guidance packages, while the DF-5 was to be equipped with a full-fledged inertial guidance unit.References: 87.

• Chinese ICBM plans Nation: China. Tsien proposes to add electronic countermeasures and other penetration aids to the DF-5 ICBM in order to defeat the planned American ABM system.

• Date uncertain. First test of DF-4. Nation: China. Program: Long March. References: 87.

• First DF-4 test from Jingyu. Nation: China. Program: Long March. First launch from Jingyu test site. References: 87.

• Second DF-4 test from Jingyu. Nation: China. Program: Long March. References: 87.

• Chang, Iris, Thread of the Silkworm, Basic Books, New York, 1995. ISBN: 0465006787. The story of how America, in the grip of McCarthyism, expelled the Father of Chinese Rocketry from CalTech to his homeland. A relatively small event with great consquences. More at amazon.com...