DF-31 vs K-4 (missile): Specs Compared

FORCETALLY

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ABallistic missiles

DF-31

Intercontinental ballistic missile

BBallistic missiles

K-4 (missile)

Intermediate-range SLBM

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

DF-31Length

21.6 m

Length source ↗

K-4 (missile)Length

12 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

DF-31larger figure on 3 of 3

Length+80%
Diameter+82%
Mass+218%

K-4 (missile)larger figure on 0 of 3

None

Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.

Measured figures

Head to head

14 of 22 rows sourced on both sides

21.6m

12m

Length+80%

All recorded figures & sources

21.6 m

Length

Single source

21.6 m (70 ft 10 in)^[source]

12 m

Length

Single source

Configuration

Details

DF-31 and K-4 (missile) configuration
Specification	DF-31	K-4 (missile)
Speed	Up to 8.16 km/s (Mach 25)^[source]	—
Type	Intercontinental ballistic missile^[source]	Intermediate-range SLBM^[source]
Place of origin	People's Republic of China^[source]	India^[source]
In service	2006 (DF-31), 2007 (DF-31A), 2017 (DF-31B)^[source]	August 2024^[source]

Used by	People's Liberation Army Rocket Force^[source]	Indian Navy^[source]

Manufacturer	Academy of Rocket Motors Technology (ARMT)^[source]	Bharat Dynamics Limited^[source]

Unit cost	-^[source]	—

Warhead	425 kilotonnes of TNT (1,780 TJ)^[source]	Strategic nuclear weapon^[source]

Engine	Solid-fuel rocket^[source]	Two stage solid rocket motor^[source]

Flight altitude	Up to 1,200 km (750 mi)^[source]	—

Guidance system	Astro-inertial guidance with BeiDou Navigation Satellite System^[source]	Mid-course: INS + multi- GNSS Terminal: TERCOM^[source]

Accuracy	100 m CEP for silo launched and 150–300 m for TEL-launched.^[source]	—

Launch platform	Silo, 8 axle TEL^[source]	Arihant -class submarines^[source]

Source measurement	The PRC has developed an improved variant of the DF-31 called the DF-31A. This upgraded missile has a reported range of 13,200 km, will allow targeting of most of the continental United States and was designed with MIRV capability to hold 3 to 5 warheads, each capable of a 90 kt yield, but is thought to be armed with only one warhead with penetration and decoy aids to complicate missile defense efforts. The missile was shown to the public during the parade in Beijing celebrating 70 years since the end of World War II on September 3, 2015. It can carry maneuverable reentry vehicles .^[source]DF-31 · DF-31A; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage	K-4 or Kalam-4 is a nuclear capable intermediate-range submarine-launched ballistic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India to arm its Arihant-class submarines . The missile has a maximum range of about 3,500 km which offers greater operational flexibility compared to its predecessor K-15 having a limited shore-bounding range. On deployment, the missile will be the first to operationalise India's sea-based nuclear triad and can accommodate the demand of credible second-strike capability of its nuclear doctrine .^[source]K-4 (missile) · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In January 2010, the K-4 was secretly tested off Vishakhapatnam . The 10 metre long and 1.3 metre wide 'black and white' missile emerged from a pontoon submerged 50 metre underwater and breached the surface. A second firing was also conducted in Visakhapatnam which has revalidated the critical ability of a 20-tonne projectile to withstand 50 kg of water pressure and eject from a submerged launcher before engaging its rocket booster.^[source]K-4 (missile) · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The K-4 is a submarine-launched ballistic missile which is composed of two stages. The missile is reported to be 12 metres (39 ft) long with a diameter of 1.3 metres (4 ft 3 in) and weighs nearly 17 tonnes (19 tons). It can carry a warhead weighing up to 2 tonnes (2.2 tons) and is powered solid rocket propellant . The DRDO stated that the aim of the missile was to achieve a high accuracy. As a countermeasure against ballistic missile defence systems, the K4 can perform three-dimensional maneuvers.^[source]K-4 (missile) · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Range (exact is classified): Full load: ~3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi) Reduced load: ~4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi)^[source]K-4 (missile) · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Circular error probable : <10 metres (33 ft). (Alleged)^[source]K-4 (missile) · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Source measurement

The PRC has developed an improved variant of the DF-31 called the DF-31A. This upgraded missile has a reported range of 13,200 km, will allow targeting of most of the continental United States and was designed with MIRV capability to hold 3 to 5 warheads, each capable of a 90 kt yield, but is thought to be armed with only one warhead with penetration and decoy aids to complicate missile defense efforts. The missile was shown to the public during the parade in Beijing celebrating 70 years since the end of World War II on September 3, 2015. It can carry maneuverable reentry vehicles .^[source]DF-31 · DF-31A; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

K-4 or Kalam-4 is a nuclear capable intermediate-range submarine-launched ballistic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India to arm its Arihant-class submarines . The missile has a maximum range of about 3,500 km which offers greater operational flexibility compared to its predecessor K-15 having a limited shore-bounding range. On deployment, the missile will be the first to operationalise India's sea-based nuclear triad and can accommodate the demand of credible second-strike capability of its nuclear doctrine .^[source]K-4 (missile) · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

In January 2010, the K-4 was secretly tested off Vishakhapatnam . The 10 metre long and 1.3 metre wide 'black and white' missile emerged from a pontoon submerged 50 metre underwater and breached the surface. A second firing was also conducted in Visakhapatnam which has revalidated the critical ability of a 20-tonne projectile to withstand 50 kg of water pressure and eject from a submerged launcher before engaging its rocket booster.^[source]K-4 (missile) · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The K-4 is a submarine-launched ballistic missile which is composed of two stages. The missile is reported to be 12 metres (39 ft) long with a diameter of 1.3 metres (4 ft 3 in) and weighs nearly 17 tonnes (19 tons). It can carry a warhead weighing up to 2 tonnes (2.2 tons) and is powered solid rocket propellant . The DRDO stated that the aim of the missile was to achieve a high accuracy. As a countermeasure against ballistic missile defence systems, the K4 can perform three-dimensional maneuvers.^[source]K-4 (missile) · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Range (exact is classified): Full load: ~3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi) Reduced load: ~4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi)^[source]K-4 (missile) · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Circular error probable : <10 metres (33 ft). (Alleged)^[source]K-4 (missile) · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage