DF-26B, China’s Advanced Missile Created to Sink US Aircraft Carriers

BEIJING – People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) China has developed advanced anti-ship ballistic missiles, such as the DF-21D and DF-26B, which are capable of sinking aircraft carrier United States (US) and its allies.

According to reports National InterestTuesday (16/7/2024), the DF-21D with a range of up to 2,150 km, and the DF-26B with a range of 4,000 km, have posed a significant threat to Navy ships operating in the Indo-Pacific.

The recent test launch of the weapon into the South China Sea underscores Beijing’s intention to challenge US naval dominance.

With these missiles, China could potentially neutralize aircraft carriers, prompting a strategic reassessment of naval operations in missile defense zones.

China’s PLA-N is now the world’s largest naval force, but many of its ships are unable to operate far from China’s home waters. It currently has two aircraft carriers in service, with a third launched last year—still dwarfed in number by the US Navy’s 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

However, while Beijing has ambitious plans to build more aircraft carriers, it will seek to “level the playing field” in a conflict with the US—by sinking an American carrier—and it has developed weapons to do so.

World’s First Carrier Killer Missile

Three decades ago, China introduced the DF-21D (Dong Feng-21, CSS-5), a medium-range ballistic missile that road-mobile. The missile is described as the world’s first anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) or “carrier killer.”

Designed to replace the outdated Dong Feng-2 (CSS-1), the DF-21D is a missile mobile China’s first solid-fueled missile capable of carrying a 600 kg payload with a minimum range of 500 km (311 mi) and a maximum range of 2,150 km. The DF-21D warhead is likely maneuverable and may have an accuracy of 20 m CEP (circular error probable).

Beijing has since developed a number of DF-21 variants, including a dual nuclear/conventional capable version (DF-21C) and another designed as an anti-ship ballistic missile (DF-21D).