The DF-3A (NATO: CSS-2) is a Chinese liquid-fueled, single-stage, nuclear

medium-range ballistic missile A medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) is a type of ballistic missile with medium range, this last classification depending on the standards of certain organizations. Within the U.S. Department of Defense, a medium-range missile is defined b ...

that entered service in 1971.Chinese nuclear forces, 2010. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. In 1988 China sold several dozen (reportedly between 36 and 60) DF-3A missiles to

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries by area, fifth-largest country in Asia ...

. Saudi Arabia publicly displayed them for the first time in 2014.

History

Deployment of the missile began in 1971, reaching a peak of 110 by 1984, then shrinking to 50 in 1993. It was estimated by the U.S. DoD that there were 17 missiles and 10 launchers in operation as of 2010 under a single brigade. By May 2014, it appeared that the last unit operating the DF-3A completed conversion to the

DF-21 The Dong-Feng 21 (DF-21; NATO reporting name CSS-5 - Dong-Feng () is a two-stage, solid-fuel rocket, single-warhead medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) in the Dong Feng series developed by China Changfeng Mechanics and Electronics Technology A ...

missile from satellite photos of changes to the launch unit site.Chinese Nuclear Missile Upgrade Near Dalian
- Fas.org, 21 May 2014

Users

People's Liberation Army Rocket Force The People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF; ), formerly the Second Artillery Corps (), is the strategic and tactical missile force of the People's Republic of China. The PLARF is the 4th branch of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and ...

;: Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force

References

{{use dmy dates, date=June 2021 Ballistic missiles of the People's Republic of China Intermediate-range ballistic missiles Military equipment introduced in the 1970s