Date |
Missile/SLV |
Launch Site |
Purpose |
Summary |
| 10 Sept 71 |
DF-5 (Batch-01-Y1) |
Base 20 (Jiuquan) |
First depressed trajectory flight test |
The missile took off from the No.138 launch pad at the Shuang Cheng Tzu missile test site (Base 20) at 11:00 local time. The first-stage was jettisoned as scheduled. However, due to a malfunction of the onboard computer, the engine of the second-stage shut down by mistake at T+207 seconds, resulting in the missile missing its target zone by 565km. The flight did not simulate the re-entry of the warhead as scheduled and therefore the missile’s heat shield and fuse system were not tested |
| 26 Dec 72 |
DF-5 (Batch-01-Y2) |
Base 20 (Jiuquan) |
Second depressed trajectory flight test |
Two of the missile’s four rocket motors failed to ignite at launch, and the missile’s engine was shut down as a result |
| 8 Apr 73 |
DF-5 (Batch-01-Y2) |
Base 20 (Jiuquan) |
Second launch attempt of the same missile |
The same missile was examined and launched again. After a successful take-off, the flight control system malfunctioned and the missile was self-destructed in the midair |
| 5 Nov 74 |
CZ-2 / DF-5 (Batch-01-Y3) |
Base 20 (Jiuquan) |
FSW-0-0 launch |
Launch of the PRC's first FSW recoverable satellite (FSW-0-0). The launcher failed shortly after take off, destroying the satellite |
| 26 Nov 75 |
CZ-2C / DF-5 (Batch-01-Y4) |
Base 20 (Jiuquan) |
FSW-0-1 launch |
The satellite was successfully sent into the orbit |
| 7 Dec 76 |
CZ-2C / DF-5 (Batch-01-Y5) |
Base 20 (Jiuquan) |
FSW-0-2 launch |
The satellite was successfully sent into the orbit |
| 14 Sept 77 |
FB-1 SLV |
Base 20 (Jiuquan) |
Warhead test |
Successful |
| 26 Jan 78 |
CZ-2C / DF-5 (Batch-01-Y6) |
Base 20 (Jiuquan) |
FSW-0-3 launch |
The satellite was successfully sent into the orbit |
| 16 Apr 78 |
FB-1 SLV |
Base 20 (Jiuquan) |
Warhead test |
Successful |
| 5 Oct 78 |
DF-5 (Batch-02-Y1) |
Base 20 (Jiuquan) |
Depressed trajectory flight test |
The first flight test of the modified DF-5 design. The test was successful |
| 7 Jan 79 |
DF-5 (Batch-02-Y2) |
Base 25 (Taiyuan) |
Lofted trajectory flight test from silo |
DF-5 high-ballistic flight test from the Wuzhai missile test site (Base 25) in Shanxi Province. This was the first time that the DF-5 was launched from an underground silo |
| 5 Apr 79 |
DF-5 (Batch-02-Y3) |
Base 20 (Jiuquan) |
Depressed trajectory flight test |
Successful |
| 15 July 79 |
DF-5 (Batch-02-Y4) |
Base 25 (Taiyuan) |
Lofted trajectory flight test from silo |
Another silo launch from Wuzhai (Base 25) and a decoy was successfully launched from the warhead |
| Oct 79 |
DF-5 (Batch-02-Y5) |
Base 25 (Taiyuan) |
Depressed trajectory flight test |
Silo-based flight test with delayed ignition of the second-stage to achieve extended range. The test was successful |
| 26 Nov 79 |
DF-5 (Batch-02-Y6) |
Base 25 (Taiyuan) |
Depressed trajectory flight test |
Silo-based flight test with delayed ignition of the second-stage to achieve extended range. This test was only partially successful as the second-stage did not shut down due to flight control failure |
| 18 May 80 |
DF-5 (Batch-02-Y7 / 580-A) |
Base 20 (Jiuquan) |
Full-range flight test (Project 580A) |
The missile was launched from the Shuang Cheng Tzu at 10:00:23 local time. After flying for 29 minutes and 57 seconds over a distance of 9,070km, the missile's re-entry vehicle hit its targeted landing spot ( 7° 42' 23'' S, 172° 15' 36'' E) in the South Pacific, where it was recovered by a PLA naval task force |
| 21 May 80 |
DF-5 (Batch-02-Y8 / 580-B) |
Base 20 (Jiuquan) |
Full-range flight test (Project 580B) |
A second missile was fired from Shuang Cheng Tzu. Due to a control system malfunction, the missile's rocket motor was shut down 6.4 seconds earlier than scheduled, resulting the missile re-entry vehicle missing its targeted landing spot by 1,400km. The test was declared failed |
| 7 Dec 81 |
DF-5 (Batch-02-Y9) |
Base 25 (Taiyuan) |
Lofted trajectory flight test |
Using improved guidance system for better accuracy. The test was successful |
| 1989 |
DF-5 (Batch 03-?) |
? |
Operational test |
Last known DF-5 flight test. Successful |
