..

China’s New DF-61 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Breaks Cover

.What looks to be a new Chinese road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) dubbed the DF-61, or at least a transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) for it, has emerged amid last-minute preparations for a massive military parade in Beijing. There have been reports for some time now that China has been developing next-generation ICBMs, including a successor to its road-mobile DF-41 ICBM, as part of a larger buildup of its nuclear deterrent arsenal.

Imagery showing 16-wheeled TELs loaded at least with canisters marked DF-61 (whether or not there is an actual missile inside is unknown) is now beginning to circulate online. It is currently early morning on September 3 in Beijing. Preparations for the imminent parade, which will mark the 80th anniversary of the country’s victory over Japan in World War II, have been going on for months now, and various new capabilities have already surfaced.

東風-61型洲際彈道飛彈（DF-61），是中華人民共和國研製的一款洲際彈道飛彈，屬現役國產主戰裝備^]，2025年9月3日於紀念中國人民抗日戰爭暨世界反法西斯戰爭勝利80周年大會上首次公開展示，被認為是繼現役的東風-41後，中國最先進的洲際彈道飛彈^]。.DF-61 Missles shown during the 2025 China Victory Day Parade.20250903..

.東風-61飛彈的各種參數尚不明確。美國科學家聯盟漢斯·默勒·克里斯滕森等撰文稱，東風-61的亮相「出人意料」，在同場閱兵式上，它是唯一「全新的」新披露核子武器。文章對比2019、2025年兩場天安門閱兵式畫面，指東風-61發射車外觀與東風-41使用的HTF5980型16輪機動發射車尤為近似，這便將引發「東風-61是否為東風-41改良型號」的問題。

.東風-61可搭載約10枚核彈頭^[]。至於本型飛彈射程，英國衛報估計在7,500英里（12,100公里）左右^[7]，台灣軍事戰略學者蘇紫雲根據彈體尺寸等推測為約15,000公里^[]。若台海爆發武裝衝突，該型飛彈，與鷹擊-21等武器一道，可使解放軍對美軍開展「阻絕作戰」，以致美機美艦無法及時增援台灣^[。中國評論通訊社之觀點與此相呼應，該社認為東風-61等新型武器「在拒止外來干涉方面極具威懾力」，戰時美國軍艦恐需「重新評估」進入第二島鏈之風險^[。

.The Dongfeng-61 is an intercontinental ballistic missile developed by the People’s Republic of China. The missile was publicly unveiled at the 2025 China Victory Day Parade on 3 September 2025 in Beijing. Its design closely resembles the earlier DF-41, leading analysts to speculate it may serve as a successor^]

According to The Guardian, four DF-61 launchers were paraded, each mounted on 16-wheel road-mobile HTF5980 Transporter erector launcher (TEL). Western analysts described the system as the “main surprise” of the parade, with its estimated range of approximately 7,500 miles, sufficient to reach Washington, D.C., from Beijing.^[

Defense experts in Taiwan described the DF-61 as an instrument of "political denial", citing its potential to carry nuclear warheads intended to deter foreign intervention, particularly the event of a cross-Strait conflict. These views were shared alongside commentary on other systems unveiled at the parade, including the JL-3 SLBM and AJX002 underwater drone