Mystery missile in Yemen: Did Saudi Arabia use China-made DF-15A?

A screenshot from a video clearly shows the DF-15A name applied on the side of the missile, via X

Saudi Arabia may have launched a Chinese-made DF-15A ballistic missile in Yemen, after debris believed to be the missile’s booster was found in Marib Governorate, according to visual imagery and open-source reports.The debris was reportedly found in Raghwan district of Marib, with images circulating online appearing to show a DF-15A designation on the missile component.

The War Zone said open-source analysts had identified it as a DF-15A and attributed it to Saudi Arabia, but stressed that neither the missile identification nor its ownership has been confirmed.The reported discovery comes amid a renewed escalation in Yemen, where Houthi forces and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces are engaged in intensified fighting.

The Houthis have also stepped up missile and drone attacks against Saudi targets, while Riyadh has increased strikes against Houthi positions.The DF-15A is a Chinese road-mobile, solid-fuelled short-range ballistic missile. According to the CSIS Missile Threat project, the DF-15 family has a launch weight of about 6,200 kg and can carry a 500-750 kg payload. Its range is estimated at 600-900 km, although the exact range varies by variant and payload.

It uses an inertial guidance system and can carry a high-explosive warhead. Different DF-15 variants can also carry warheads designed to hit runways and hardened targets.Saudi Arabia has not officially acknowledged operating the DF-15A or any other short-range Chinese ballistic missile. However, previous reports have linked Riyadh to Chinese ballistic-missile systems, including the DF-3A, which Saudi Arabia publicly displayed in 2014, and the DF-21, whose reported sale to the kingdom has never been officially confirmed.The reported DF-15A debris therefore could provide a new indication of a previously undisclosed Saudi missile capability, if the identification and attribution are eventually confirmed.