Are the Russian 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 Russia and China

Number 1: R-36M2 Voyevoda (Russia)

The Soviet R-36M2 Voyevoda (Western designation SS-9 Scarp), known in the West as SS-18 Satan.

The SS-18 Satan is a very capable missile, mainly because of its high speed and extremely high throw weight. Russia was and is still ahead of the West in development of missile engines.

The R-36M2 missile has a range of 11 000 km and carry up to 10 MIRVs with a blast yield of 0.75-1 MT and up to 40 penetration aids. So its nuclear warheads are hard to intercept by air defense systems. CEP is 220 m. So even though it is not the most accurate missile it coupes in full with its payload. Some sources report that a single SS-18 Satan missile with MIRVs can completely destroy 3 US states, such as Maryland, Vermont and Rhode Island.

In terms of range and payload it is clearly superior to the US Trident II.

Number 2: RS-24 Yars (Russia)

The Russian RS-24 Yars is a new intercontinental ballistic missile. It is known in the West as SS-29. It is an improved version of the previous RS-12M Topol-M. It was developed both as a road-mobile and silo-based system, which would use the same missile. As of 2016 Russian Strategic Missile Forces deployed 63 mobile and 10 silo-based Yars ICBMs. It is planned that the Yars will become the mainstay of the ground-based component of Russian nuclear triad.

This solid-fuel missile is similar to that of the Topol-M. The Yars has a range of 12 000 km. The main difference from the previous missile is that Yars is MIRV-equipped and can carry at least 6 independently targetable warheads with 100-300 kT yield. Other sources report that this missile can carry up to 10 re-entry vehicles. It is very likely, considering that the previous Topol-M could carry 10 warheads. CEP of the Yars is 150-200 m.

The Yars was designed to overcome missile defense systems. This missile maneuvers during the flight and carries both active and passive decoys. It is estimated that it has at least 60-65% chance to penetrate defenses.

The road-mobile Yars uses the same highly mobile 16x16 wheeled chassis as the previous Topol-M. Externally both missiles look similar, but the Yars is heavier and more capable. The mobile launcher has 500 km autonomy on roads. Once on high alert, the Yars TELs can leave their bases and operates in remote forest areas to increase their survivability. Its autonomy allows the mobile launcher with missile to operate undetected in an area equivalent to a small European country. So such road-mobile ICBMs are harder to detect and hit. These have a high probability of surviving the first strike, once the country has been attacked.

Number 3: The R-29RMU2.1 Layner

The R-29RMU2.1 Layner is a recent Russian submarine-launched ballistic missile. It is an improved version of the previous R-29RMU2 Sineva. The R-29RMU2.1 Layner was adopted in 2014. It is used on Delta IV class submarines. Previous R-29RMU2 Sineva missiles have reportedly been modified to the new standard.

This Russian submarine-launched missile has a maximum range of 8 300 km with full load and 12 000 km with reduced load. Each missile can carry 12 low-yield warheads. Most likely that these have 100-300 kT capacity. Unusual feature of this missile is that warheads can be of a mixed set with various yields. This missile is equipped with improved systems to overcome anti-ballistic missile shields. It carries decoys. Furthermore it can be configured to can carry less nuclear warheads, but more decoys.

As of 2016 a total of 6 Delta IV class submarines, equipped with ballistic missiles, are in service with the Russian Navy. Submarine basing of the ICBMs allow to survive the first strike. Still though these have a higher chances of surviving than silo-based systems. Furthermore these missiles have sufficient range to be fired straight from the pier, even without need for the submarines to leave their well protected bases.

Number 4: 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 5: 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 6: 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.

Number 7: Bulava (Russia)

The Bulava is a new Russian submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile. It is carried by the new Russian Borei class submarines. The Bulava is a naval version of the Topol-M. Once the country has been attacked these submarine-based missiles have high chances of surviving the first strike. Each Borei class submarine can carry 16 missiles. The Bulava missile has potential to be road-mobile or rail-based.

Overall the Bulava is much less capable than the US Trident D5. It has shorter range, can carry significantly less payload and is not that accurate. It has a declared range of 9 500 km. This missile can carry 6 MIRVs with a yield of 150 kT each. It can also carry 10 MIRVs, though to a range of only 4 000 km. The Bulava has an astro-inertial guidance with Russian GLONASS satellite navigation system update. It has a CEP of 350 m. This missile was designed to overcome hostile air defenses.