China has successfully tested a new variant of its 10,000km-range Dongfeng (Meaning: East Wind) missile, which can reportedly reach most of the US and European cities.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) launched the missile from the Wuzhai missile and space test centre, which is also known as the Taiyuan satellite launch centre, in Shanxi province.
The launch of the DF-31B missile follows tests on the DF-31A, an earlier version of the missile. This was the second time that the PLA’s second artillery corps had tested a DF-31 missile in the past three months.
The PLA also carried out a flight test of a DF-31A in late July, which was its fourth known flight test in two years. The DF-31 system’s range is capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the capitals of Europe or the west coast of US.
The reports also suggested that Beijing was working on the 12,000km-range Dongfeng-41, which would allow it to hit targets anywhere in the US.
