DF-17

The Dongfeng-17 (NATO reporting name: CH-SS-22), is a Chinese solid-fuelled road-mobile medium-range ballistic missile designed to carry the DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle.

The missile likely entered service in the second half of 2019. It is the first operationally deployed tactical ballistic missile with an HGV.

Design
The DF-17 uses the rocket booster from the DF-16B short-range ballistic missile.

It is more difficult for missile defenses to intercept the manoeuvrable DF-ZF than a ballistic missile, whose trajectories are more predictable. DF-17 strikes to degrade air and missile defenses may precede the use of less survivable weapons.

According to Chinese commentators, the DF-ZF is armed with a conventional warhead. US intelligence considers the DF-ZF to be nuclear capable as well.

Development
The DF-ZF flight test on 15 November 2017 was launched using a DF-17.

The DF-17 and DF-ZF made their first official public appearance during the National Day military parade on 1 October 2019.

Strategic implications
In March 2020, the United States Department of Defense proposed accelerating the development of conventionally armed hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV) to keep pace with the Chinese development. Michael Griffin, former Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, told the House Armed Services Committee that the United States needs to develop hypersonic weapons "to allow us to match what our adversaries are doing."

Further development
In 2020, multiple military observers in China reported an air-launched hypersonic missile version based on DF-17 was undergoing testing.