Are the American intercontinental ballistic missiles better than the China?

Ballistic missile technology pretty much matured a long time ago. The United States operates 14 ballistic missile submarines, each with 20 operational Trident II missile launch tubes, each of those missiles capable of carrying eight independent warheads (down from 24 missiles with 12 warheads due to treaty). They can strike their targets within 15 minutes of launch, and there is currently no effective defense.

The next step in the evolution of long range missile technology is not ballistic missiles, but hypersonic sub-orbital missiles which can navigate to their target rather than flying in a simple ballistic trajectory. Russia, China, India, and the United States all appear to be working on this technology. The United States current stated objective is to be able to strike anywhere in the World with conventional weapons in an hour or less in their Prompt Global Strike initiative, but this hypersonic technology could easily be adapted to nuclear warheads.

This is a comparison list of intercontinental ballistic missiles developed by USA and China

Number 1: Trident II (USA)

The Trident D5, or Trident II, is a submarine-launched ballistic missile. It is an improved version of the previous Trident C4 with greater payload, range and accuracy. These missile are deployed by the United States and the United Kingdom. The US Trident II missiles are carried by 14 Ohio class submarines, while the British missiles are carried by 4 Vanguard class submarines.

The Trident II missile has a range of 7 800 km with full load and 12 000 km with reduced load. So even though the Trident II does not have the longest range comparing with other ICBMs, ballistic submarines armed with these missiles can always approach their targets, to reduce their flight range so to speak.

Each US Trident II missiles can carry up to 14 warheads with a 475 kT yield each. Though START I agreement reduced this number to 8. Re-entry vehicles maneuver in order to avoid enemy air defenses. Each re-entry vehicle is targeted independently. The British missiles use different locally built re-entry vehicles. British missiles reportedly can carry up to 12 warheads per missile.

The Trident II is a very accurate missile. It has a CEP of around 90 m. It is guided on the target by astro-inertial navigation system, but can also receive GPS updates.

The Trident II missile not only has impressive range, great payload and is very accurate. Another major advantage of the Trident II over other ballistic missiles is that it is submarine-launched. It is worth noting that USA controls most of the water area with its fleet. It allows these submarines to remain undetected on their ocean patrols. It makes these ICMBs extremely deadly. At the same time positions of stationary silo-based ballistic missiles are known and are targeted by hostile nuclear missiles. So ballistic submarines with Trident II missiles have a high probability of surviving the first strike, once the country has been attacked.

It is planned that upgraded versions of the Trident II missiles will remain in service until 2042.

Number 2: LGM-30G Minuteman III (USA)

The Minuteman III is the most numerous US ICBM. There are 450 of these missiles in the US service. Another 50 to 75 missiles are in reserve. That's the biggest number of ballistic missiles in the world. These are managed by the United States Air Force Global Strike Command. There are silos to fire the Minuteman III missile all around the United States, like in Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming and other US Air Force bases. However all of these missiles are stationary and their positions are known.

The Minuteman III missile has a maximum range of 13 000 km. The original inertial navigation system provided it with an accuracy of about 200 m CEP, but an updated inertial guidance system gives it 120 m CEP.

The Minuteman III carries a payload of three independently targetable reentry vehicles. Each one of this MIRVs is armed with nuclear warhead with a destructive power between 300 to 500 kT. It also carries penetration aids to counter enemy missile defense systems.

So the Minuteman III is agile and has the longest range, but might not be the best intercontinental missile in the world. However the United States operates hundreds of these missiles, so quantity has its own quality.

Number 3: DF-41 (China)

The DF-41 is currently the most powerful Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), developed in China. It is one of the deadliest ICBMs in the world. It is based on an 8-axle launcher vehicle and is similar in concept to Russian road-mobile ICBMs such as Topol-M and Yars. First test launch of this missile was made in 2013.

The DF-41 is a solid-fuel missile. It has an estimated range of 12 000 km and carries up to 10 Multiple Independently-targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs). Its range is sufficient to reach all areas of United States, Europe and Russia. It will take roughly 20-25 minutes for the DF-41 from launch to reach targets in the United States. This missile is extremely devastating and can wipe out entire countries.

This missile has internal navigation system with indigenous Chinese BeiDou satellite navigation system update. It could be accurate to 150 meters, or possibly, even more accurate is even more accurate.

The DF-41 is based on Taian HTF5980 special wheeled chassis with 16x16 configuration. This vehicle has some degree of cross-country mobility and can travel over various terrain. Interestingly China has gained a number of heavy high mobility vehicle chassis technology from Belarusian MZKT company. A joint Chinese and Belarusian venture was established for production of special wheeled chassis in China.

A number of previous Chinese road-mobile ICBMs are stored in tunnels. Hence the missiles are well protected. Once on high alert the road-mobile launchers leave the tunnels and fire their missiles from nearby launch positions.

Number 4: DF-31AG (China)

The DF-31AG is a new Chinese Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). It made its public debut during a major military parade marking the 90th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army. A total of 16 DF-31AG launchers with missiles were publicly presented during this parade. Such appearance of numerous missiles indicates that the DF-31AG is already in service with Second Artillery Corps that are de facto strategic missile forces of Chinese army. Currently it is among the deadliest ICBMs in the world. Though it is smaller and less capable than the DF-41.

The new DF-31AG is based on an 8-axle launcher vehicle and is more mobile. This feature widens its deployment options and thus increases survivability. In concept the DF-31AG is similar to Russian road-mobile ICBMs such as Topol and Yars.

The DF-31AG is a solid-fuel missile. It has three stages. This missile has a range of 11 200 km and can reach all areas of United States, Europe and Russia.

While the older DF-31A carries a single warhead, the new DF-31AG reportedly carries multiple independently-targetable warheads (MIRVs). There is a version of the DF-31, which carries 3 MIRVs with 20, 90, or 150 kT blast yield capacity each. Furthermore the DF-31AG has longer range and improved survivability.

Missile has internal navigation system with indigenous Chinese BeiDou satellite navigation system. Some sources suggest that it has an accuracy of 150 meters, or is even more accurate. This missile carries decoys in order to overcome missile defense systems.

Number 5: JL-2 (China)

The JL-2 is a new Chinese submarine-launched ballistic missile. It is a naval variant of the land-based DF-31. It was first deployed in 2015. It is carried by Jin class submarines. For the first time China has a credible sea-based nuclear strike capability. The sole previous Xia class boat with short-ranged JL-1 missiles had little strategic value. Each Jin class submarine carries 12 of these missiles.

It is estimated that the new JL-2 missile has a range of 7 400-8 000 km. Such range is sufficient to reach all areas of Europe, India, Russia, and most areas of the United States. It carries a single 250-1 000 kT warhead, or up to 3-4 MIRVs with 90 kT each.

This missile astro-inertial navigation system with indigenous Chinese BeiDou satellite navigation system update. It is estimated that this missiles has a CEP of less than 100 m.

These submarine-based missiles have a high probability of surviving the first strike. Once on high alert these submarines can leave their bases and operate in China's coastal water, protected by the China's fleet. However the Jin class submarines are not as advanced as the Western ballistic missile submarines, and are inferior to the Russian submarines. China was always dragging behind in terms of submarine technology. These submarines are not as stealthy as the current Western and Russian submarines. These are as noisy as the Russian Delta III class submarines, that were adopted back in the mid 1970s.

Some sources report that the next generation Type 096 class boats are being built and should begin sea trials in the early 2020s. Also a new JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile is being developed for these boats.