What's the reason behind China's ICBM silo building spree?
The DF-41, here mounted on a launcher, will also be installed in silos. (Xinhua)
China has been secretively building 120 new silos to house DF-41 ICBMs - to what end?
Satellite imagery has revealed that China has been rapidly constructing no fewer than 120 silos to house intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) in landlocked Gansu Province in northwest China.
Major construction kicked off earlier this year at the site that covers hundreds of square miles of desert to the west and southwest of Yumen town. The site is still under construction, and many silos are hidden under 70m-wide inflatable domes to conceal construction details from prying satellites.
The discovery was made by Decker Eveleth, an amateur satellite intelligence analyst using commercially available imagery from Planet. His findings for the James Martin
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Defence Notes
-
![Amazon Project Kuiper emphasises user-friendly solutions for multi-domain connectivity (Studio)]()
Amazon Project Kuiper emphasises user-friendly solutions for multi-domain connectivity (Studio)
At DSEI 2025, Shephard's Alix Valenti spoke to Project Kuiper's Rich Pang about the importance of enabling seamless communication between allied forces such as NATO members in challenging operational environments.
-
![DSEI 2025: Raytheon UK CEO highlights RTX skills, innovation and UK footprint]()
DSEI 2025: Raytheon UK CEO highlights RTX skills, innovation and UK footprint
At DSEI 2025, James Gray, Managing Director and CEO of Raytheon UK (part of RTX), outlines the company’s century-long presence in the UK and its evolving role across defence, aerospace, cyber, and training domains.
-
![Israel defence ministry pushes ambitious spending plans for tanks, drones and KC-46 aircraft]()
Israel defence ministry pushes ambitious spending plans for tanks, drones and KC-46 aircraft
The procurement and acceleration production plans – some of which still await approval – across the air and land domains will aim to strengthen the operational needs of the Israel Defense Forces.
