CJ-10 land-attack cruise missile
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Overview
The CJ-10 ("Changjian-10", Long Sword 10) is China's principal long-range land-attack cruise missile — the rough equivalent of the U.S. Tomahawk in the PLA's arsenal. Developed from the earlier DH-10 program, it is a subsonic, terrain-following missile designed to deliver a precision conventional warhead against fixed high-value targets out to roughly 1,500–2,000 km. It is fielded primarily by the PLA Rocket Force on road-mobile launchers, with the air-launched KD-20 derivative carried by H-6K bombers extending its reach far beyond Chinese airspace. Guidance combines inertial navigation with satellite updates and likely terrain-contour and scene-matching, giving the precision needed to strike command nodes, airfields and infrastructure. For an analyst, the CJ-10 is the conventional land-attack backbone of China's stand-off strike. Mounted on mobile launchers and bombers, it lets the PLA hold regional bases and infrastructure at risk without committing aircraft to defended airspace — the cruise-missile complement to the ballistic DF-series in China's reconnaissance-strike system.
Deployment Map
Home ports from known hull assignments. Operating areas reflect typical AORs — individual deployments will vary.
Timeline
Specifications
Doctrine & Employment
Role
Long-range conventional land-attack cruise missile — the PLA's Tomahawk-class stand-off weapon.
Design Philosophy
Precision reach over speed — hold regional infrastructure at risk cheaply.
Employment
Mobile launchers and H-6K bombers strike fixed high-value targets without entering defended airspace.
Threat Context
The cruise-missile complement to the DF-series in China's reconnaissance-strike complex.
How to Compare
Read against the Tomahawk, Kalibr and Hyunmoo-3.
Operational Patterns
Typical Deployment
Stand-off precision strikes on fixed targets from mobile launchers and bombers.
Typical Task Group
PLARF launcher brigades; H-6K raids under fighter cover.
Readiness
Mature; complemented by CJ-100/CJ-20.
Key Operating Areas
Peer Comparison Matrix
Both are subsonic precision land-attack missiles; the CJ-10 is China's Tomahawk equivalent, ground- and air-launched.
Video angle: China's Tomahawk.
Russia's land-attack cruise missile, used heavily against Ukraine.
Video angle: The great-power land-attack cruise missiles.
South Korea's comparable long-range land-attack cruise missile.
Video angle: East Asia's cruise-missile arsenals.
Combat History
Paraded in Beijing, confirming China's long-range land-attack cruise missile capability.
Marked China's entry into Tomahawk-class stand-off strike.
Known Vulnerabilities
Subsonic speed
Like all subsonic cruise missiles, vulnerable to modern integrated air defence.
Context: Dense IADS can attrite a raid.
Mitigation: Terrain masking and saturation.
GPS reliance
Satellite-aided navigation can be jammed.
Context: Peer EW threatens accuracy.
Mitigation: Terrain/scene-matching backup.
Variants
| Variant | Designation | Years | Count | Status | Key Changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CJ-10 / DH-10 (ground) | — | 2009– | — | active | Road-mobile land-attack cruise missile |
| KD-20 / CJ-10K (air-launched) | — | 2009– | — | active | H-6K-carried variant for extended reach |
| CJ-100 / CJ-20 | — | 2019– | — | active | Higher-performance follow-on cruise missiles |
Modernization Programmes
CJ-100 / CJ-20 follow-ons
Higher-speed and longer-range successors broaden the cruise-missile force.
Impact: Increases reach and survivability of stand-off strike.
Images
Frequently Asked
When was the first CJ-10 land-attack cruise missile commissioned?
The first CJ-10 land-attack cruise missile entered service in 2009.
Who builds the CJ-10 land-attack cruise missile?
The CJ-10 land-attack cruise missile is built by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. (CASIC).
What variants of the CJ-10 land-attack cruise missile exist?
Known variants include: CJ-10 / DH-10 (ground), KD-20 / CJ-10K (air-launched), CJ-100 / CJ-20.
Curated Research
recommended
Profile
reference
Range and basing
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