China launches ICBM into Pacific

China has said it test launched an intercontinental ballistic missile with a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean, a rare move that could raise tensions with the U.S. and its allies


Sep 25, 00:44GMT: Missile likely fired from Hainan. Believed to be first time since 1980 that China launched ICBM into international waters

Claimed flight path
Type of ICBM not disclosed – may have been one of China’s most powerful missiles, such as DF-31 or DF-41

Landing: Analysts say ICBM fell into Pacific near French Polynesia

CHINA
JAPAN 
PHILIPPINES
Pacific Ocean
Indian Ocean
AUSTRALIA
U.S.


DF-41: Three-stage solid-fuel missile

Payload
2,500kg, including up to 10 MIRVs*

Length: 21m

Range (est.) 12,000 to 15,000km. Capable of striking U.S. mainland


ICBM launcher


*Multiple Independently-targetable Reentry Vehicles – allows missile to deliver several nuclear warheads to different targets


Sources: BBC, Bloomberg, CSIS, Duan Dang/NOTAM Visualiser, Japan Times 
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