COMMUNIST CHINA'S STRATEGIC MISSILE PROGRAM AND COMMUNIST CHINA'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005577298
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: June 29, 2011
• Case Number: F-2010-01671
• Publication Date: September 25, 1969

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE - CIA INFO^ DATE: 05-17-2011
COMMUNIST CHINA'S STRATEGIC MISSILE PROGRAM
AND
COMMUNIST CHINA'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM
25SEP1969
TS-199122
Cy No. . of
7r1z ~i RE T
ooc l1.
 Communist China's Strategic Missile Program
Present Position
China has assigned a high national the
development of ballistic missile delivery systems during
the past decade.
available evidence
.indicates that the. Chinese have initially concentrated on the
"development of liquid-propellant sy s Le::_s i r_ :l-le medium-range
and intercontinental ballistic missile catego ies. This
program has evolved from assistance o_ igine l v o ovided by
the Soviets a decade ago. y
1-t is probable that flight of a was
essentially completed by the end of 1557 o." early i::68.
There have been some tentative indications of troop-training
firings with the MRBM during the oast year. However, there
is as yet no firm evidence of actual deployment of the system.
the
M IM is estimated to be capable of delivering a 3,000-3,500
pound reentry vehicle to a.maximum range of about 900-1,000
nautical miles. Such a weapons system would provide adequate
coverage of a significant number of Soviet targets as well
as countries on China's periphery.
The Chinese first-generation ICBM has undoubtedly used
the MRBM technology as a building bloc:. This system could
reach the flight-test stage in the re'a.t_v: ly ni-ea_ future,
initially involving booster tests to inpac-t areas within
China's borders. There are as yet no known p:r*eparat ions for
long-range ICBM test firings, which would necessarily involve
impact areas beyond Chinese boundaries. The post logical
places for such areas lie in the Indian or pacific Oceans,
but- Chinese intentions in this respect are not known. Assuming
booster test firings begin by the end of 1969, the ICBM could
conceivably reach an initial operational capability in late
1972; however, 1973 is more likely. This system probably
will. be relatively large, but capable of delivering a reentry
vehicle weighing in excess of 5,000 pounds to ranges of more
than 6 , 000 nautical miles.
There also are growing, but still tenuous indications
TS-199122
 that the Chinese have e mba.rked upon a s ~_~.ce program for the
coming decade, probably involving liquid-prc ellant
.boosters. There also is evidence that second-generation
strategic missile systems wi1 employ co irosi Zfe solid
propellants. Such missiles are unlikely to become operational
before the mid-1970's, however.
Expioita::ion of i ore1gn ~'.c~_nolc_y
China has been engaged for some years in an intensive
effort to acquire foreign technical Ssist~ nc necessary- for
a broad spectrum of scientific and engineer _n cnd a. vo_
The evidence indicates that the C? ___ : e ~v_ _ d onsid ,r ble
success in obtaining nw_ dwa ;' ~. _ r _ =~_ ssoci~ tec
~eennoiogy in some a roar
applications in the developr;e:_ esc___ ~c. od ctior: o_
strategic missile Sys ems.. ? It oug -hie c er share o_
Chinese purchases of f o_ 01'g11 c In i - i xcent i nc ludin
inst1'ti mentation and i.:.-'_ oba:ii is ra L. rea for general
industrial applications, some of these purchases undoubtedly
have increased significantly China's capabili.-ies to support
the overall missile effort.
Chinese exploitation of foreign assistance' in these areas
increased markedly beginning in 1965. Since then China has
purchased, attempted to purchase, or indicated a serious
interest in obtaining numerous items having direct or indirect
missile applications. A few e amples of then include;
pulverizing equipment suitable for solid fuel
ingredients; ammonium oerchlorate Cori nci al use of
which in large quantities is as an oxidizer in composite
solid propellants; high-g_ade (98% purity) nitric acid and
anhydrous hydrazine -- fairly good exa_i.pes of storable liquid
propellants; various types of vibration testing equipment --
iilc lading the purchase of wha t is probably e world's
largest shake table; high-speed movie ca_:~e