China expands DF-26 launcher inventory

Umbra imagery shows DF-26 IRBM TELs at the Beijing Xinghang Electromechanical Equipment Factory. (Umbra Lab Inc/Janes)

Umbra synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery captured at 1045L on 9 September 2024 shows that 59 DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) transporter-erector-launchers (TELs) remain parked in a new staging area at the Beijing Xinghang Electromechanical Equipment Factory.

Commercial imagery throughout 2023–24 suggests the factory has assembled at least 72 DF-26 TELs since the last batch was delivered to the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) in 2020–21. The number of TELs identified in 2024 could constitute up to two full 36 TEL brigades.

The US Department of Defense (DoD) 2023 China Military Power Report, which was published in October covering developments to the end of 2022, noted that China has continued to increase its DF-26 inventory, estimating that the PLARF had reached 250 IRBM launchers.

The Federation of American Scientists noted that the DoD figure likely includes TELs identified at the Beijing-based factory. However, monthly imagery observations in 2022 from multiple providers indicate there was likely insufficient visible DF-26 assembly activity that would have significantly impacted the Pentagon's estimate. Throughout most of the year, a singular DF-26 TEL was observed in a handling area, parked with a mobile crane and a possible dummy missile load.

This suggests that the DoD's reported DF-26 number likely reflects launchers estimated to be assigned to active units. Janes assesses that there are at least seven brigades that operate the DF-26, according to satellite imagery and handheld photography analysis. These are identified at the following locations:

PLARF brigades operating the DF-26 IRBMBase/unitMilitary Unit Cover DesignatorLocationLatitudeLongitude61/611 Brigade96711Chizhou30.692226117.89998462/625 Brigade96725Jianshui23.735717102.87141262/626 Brigade96726Qingyuan23.684396113.17708164/646 Brigade96746Korla41.69443786.17337465/654 Brigade96754Huangling40.845375122.76832866/665 Brigade96765Changzhi36.258263113.17864066/666 Brigade96766Xinyang32.167534114.125850

With a full-strength brigade assessed to operate 36 TELs, the DoD 2022 figure corresponds closely with Janes