DF‑ZF Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV)

Manufacturer: China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC)
Category: Glide Vehicle
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Hypersonic Speed Mach 5–10 (approx. 1.7–3.4 km/s)
Maneuverable Glide Path Yes
Boost-Glide Launch Yes
Extreme Thermal Protection Advanced high-temperature composites and thermal shielding, capable of withstanding reentry heat

Full Specifications

1. General Information

Name / Designation	DF-ZF (formerly WU-14)
Type	Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV)
Manufacturer	China Aerospace Science Industry Corporation (CASIC), 10th Research Institute
Country of Origin	China
Role / Purpose	High-speed, maneuverable strike with conventional or nuclear payload
Operational Status	Operational (since ≈2020)

2. Physical Characteristics

Length	Not publicly disclosed
Body Design	Lifting-body glider with control fins for aerodynamic maneuvering
Material	High-temperature composites with thermal protection
Launch Platform	DF-17 solid-fueled mobile ballistic missile booster
Payload Capacity	Compatible with conventional or nuclear warhead (weight not disclosed)

3. Propulsion & Performance

Propulsion Type	None during glide; powered by DF-17 booster until release
Speed	Mach 5–10 (~1.7–3.4 km/s)
Range	~1,800–2,500 km (booster-dependent)
Maneuverability	High; evasive glide maneuvers during flight
Flight Profile	Boost-glide: ascent to near-space, separation, unpowered hypersonic glide

4. Navigation & Guidance

Guidance System	Inertial navigation system, possibly augmented by terminal sensors
Terminal Guidance	Likely inertial + sensors (details classified)
Accuracy (CEP)	Not publicly confirmed; reported “within meters” in tests
Counter-Jamming	Hardened against basic electronic countermeasures

5. Warhead & Payload

Warhead Type	Conventional or nuclear
Explosive Yield	Not publicly disclosed; depends on payload
Penetration Ability	Designed to defeat advanced missile-defense systems via high speed & maneuverable glide

6. Survivability & Defensive Features

Thermal Protection	Advanced high-temperature composites for re-entry heat resistance
Stealth Features	Low-altitude, non-ballistic glide reduces radar/infrared detection
Anti-Interception Ability	Unpredictable glide path + hypersonic speed limits effectiveness of current ABM systems

Our Rating

The overall rating is based on review by our experts

Maintenance Efficiency 8 / 10
Performance 8 / 10
Technology 8 / 10
Reliability & Maintenance 8 / 10

PROS

Extremely high speed (Mach 5–10) reduces defense reaction time and increases penetration probability.
Maneuverable glide path makes interception by conventional missile-defense systems highly difficult.
Medium-to-long range (≈ 1,800–2,500 km) enables regional strike flexibility.
Compatible with conventional or nuclear warheads, giving strategic options for deterrence or precision strike.
Road‑mobile launcher (DF‑17) enhances survivability and rapid deployment readiness.

CONS

Precise technical performance (accuracy, warhead yield, exact guidance) remains unconfirmed in open sources.
As a glide-only vehicle, lacks continuous powered propulsion — limiting range/altitude tradeoffs compared to cruise missiles.
Glide-phase deceleration reduces terminal velocity compared to a ballistic reentry — possibly making it vulnerable to high-altitude or lower‑tier interceptors under some conditions.
Limited public data on payload capacity or warhead weight reduces clarity on destructive power.
Operational and logistical footprint (transport, launch infrastructure, maintenance) likely remains complex and resource-intensive.

DF‑ZF Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV)

The DF‑ZF represents a significant leap in modern strike capabilities — a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) engineered to outpace and outmaneuver existing missile defenses. Built by China’s China Aerospace Science Industry Corporation (CASIC) in cooperation with its 10th Research Institute, DF‑ZF (formerly designated “WU‑14”) entered operational status around 2019–2020, integrated primarily with the road‑mobile DF‑17 medium-range ballistic missile.

Upon launch, the DF‑17’s solid‑fuel booster carries DF‑ZF to near‑space altitudes — roughly 100 km — before release. At that point, the DF‑ZF shifts to a boost‑glide profile: using aerodynamic lift rather than powered thrust, it glides toward its target at sustained hypersonic velocities, reportedly between Mach 5 and Mach 10.

This combination of extreme speed and maneuverable glide drastically complicates tracking and interception. Traditional ballistic missiles follow predictable arcs; the DF‑ZF instead performs evasive flight, weaving laterally or changing altitude, limiting reaction windows for missile defense systems.

Intended for both conventional and nuclear payloads, DF‑ZF enhances strategic flexibility. Its estimated range — when paired with DF‑17 — lies between 1,800 and 2,500 km, enabling strikes across a broad regional footprint.

As such, DF‑ZF stands as one of the world’s first operational hypersonic glide vehicles, designed not simply for speed but for survivable penetration of modern layered air‑ and missile‑defenses. Its existence shifts the calculus for any adversary relying on legacy interceptor systems.

DF‑ZF Glide Vehicle Price

Due to the classified nature of DF‑ZF, no public data is available regarding acquisition cost. Officially only limited production and deployment numbers are acknowledged by the manufacturer and relevant Chinese authorities; thus a validated “price in the United States” cannot be provided.

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