[环球展望军事网编译]2008年4月11日：中国的西部（青海省）公路建设显示有助于DF31A ICBM的部署。这是中国的第一种固体燃料ICBM（具有大约8,000公里射程）和大概相当于美国1960年的民兵I型。DF-31大约重46吨、长度60英尺和直径7英尺。它被设计用于在潜艇、陆基发射井和移动发射装置上使用（停在那些在青海省的卫星照片中看到的“未知地点停车场的中心”）。DF31已经被显示储存在一辆TEL（运输、竖起，发射台）车辆中。遭遇反击时与使用一个加固发射井相比较，驾驶这些车辆沿着青海省的所有那些新公路会提供更多保护。

    DF-31已经发展将近二十年，而且仅仅在九年前才有了它的第一成功发射。它目前据信有一个可靠的和精确的制导系统，还有一个携带三枚50千吨弹头的第三级。只有大约十二枚DF31在服役中。

    当中国获得一个SSBN（弹道导弹核潜艇）操作能力的时候，DF31的海基型会能够覆盖整个美国。但是基本陆基型只能打击洛矶山脉西面的北美目标。DF31的一个新型号，使用DF31的最初二级和一个更大的第三级。这种导弹，称为DF31A，射程10,000公里，而且因此能够覆盖大部分美国。DF31A仍然在发展中。

    附原文供对照参考：

China Hits The Road

April 11, 2008: Highway construction in China's west (Qinghai province) indicates preparations are being made for the deployment of the DF31A ICBM. This is China's first solid fuel ICBM (with a range of about 8,000 kilometers) and roughly equivalent to the U.S. Minuteman I of the 1960s. The DF-31 weighs about 46 tons and is 60 feet long and 7 feet in diameter. It was designed for use on submarines, land silos and mobile launchers (which would halt at those "parking lots in the middle of nowhere" visible in satellite pictures of Qinghai province).  The DF31 has been shown stored in a TEL (transporter, erector, launcher) vehicle. Driving these vehicles along all those new highways in Qinghai province would provide more protection from counterattacks, than using a reinforced silo.

The DF-31 has been in development for nearly twenty years, and only had its first successful launch nine years ago. It's now believed to have a reliable and accurate guidance system, as well as a third stage that carries three 50 kiloton warheads. Only about a dozen DF31s are in service.

When the Chinese get a SSBN (ballistic missile carrying nuclear sub) operational, the submarine version of the DF31 would be able to cover the entire United States. But the basic land based models can only hit North American targets west of the Rocky mountains.  A new version of the DF31, uses the first two stages of the DF31, and a larger third stage. This missile, referred to as the DF31A, has a range of 10,000 kilometers, and can thus cover most of the United States. The DF31A is still in development.