Could China use a high-speed ‘doomsday train’ to launch nuclear missiles?

Name: China’s DF-26 ballistic missile drill sends ‘clear message’ to the U.S.
Uploaded: 2022-03-28T21:00:22.000Z
Duration: 52 s
Description: China’s DF-26 ballistic missile drill sends ‘clear message’ to the U.S.

Researchers look at the effects on the rail and foundations if an intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from a high-speed train

Compared with heavy-haul railways the faster, smoother train is safer and better conceals military vehicles, the Chengdu team says

Reading Time:3 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

Chinese researchers have looked at the viability of launching intercontinental ballistic missiles, such as the DF-41, pictured, from high-speed trains.Photo: AP

Stephen Chen

Published: 5:00am, 29 Mar 2022Updated: 5:47am, 29 Mar 2022

High-speed rail is being considered as a potential launch platform for nuclear strikes after a new study by Chinese researchers suggested it was more suitable than previously thought.

In China, these trains travel up to 350km/h (217mph). These trains are slim, with up to 16 carriages each weighing about 60 tonnes.

A modern intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) could fit inside a carriage but when blasting off, its weight generates thrust two to four times the train’s maximum load capacity, according to Yin Zihong, associate professor of civil engineering with Southwest Jiaotong University in Chengdu, Sichuan province. Yin is lead scientist of the national research project funded by the central government.

While a modified high-speed train could withstand a launch, most of the stress caused would pass down to the rail and its foundations, potentially damaging the infrastructure and rendering it unsafe and unusable.

00:52

China’s DF-26 ballistic missile drill sends ‘clear message’ to the U.S.

Using data from previous test launches conducted by the Chinese military and computer modelling, Yin and his colleagues simulated the operation of a high-speed rail launch system.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x

Could China use a high-speed ‘doomsday train’ to launch nuclear missiles?

Researchers look at the effects on the rail and foundations if an intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from a high-speed train Compared with heavy-haul railways the faster, smoother train is safer and better conceals military vehicles, the Chengdu team says

Researchers look at the effects on the rail and foundations if an intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from a high-speed train

Compared with heavy-haul railways the faster, smoother train is safer and better conceals military vehicles, the Chengdu team says