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Nuclear Political Work

Still Makes the Blood Boil Every Time! Revisiting the Iconic High-Intensity Launch Footage of Our Country's First Intercontinental Missile

再看还是热血沸腾!回顾我国首枚洲际导弹高燃发射名场面
PLA Daily (解放军报) 18 May 2026
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A PLA media outlet marked the 46th anniversary of the DF-5 ICBM's first launch with a 30-second archival footage clip, framing the 1980 test as the moment China broke superpower monopoly on intercontinental nuclear weapons. The piece is anniversary commemorative content — its analytic value is narrow: it documents how PLA media currently frames the DF-5's legacy as a lineage story connecting 1980-era self-reliance to the present Dongfeng family, reinforcing institutional pride in the Rocket Force's strategic deterrent heritage rather than announcing any new capability or posture change.

46 years ago today, amid a tremendous roar, our country's first intercontinental missile, the Dongfeng-5, was successfully launched, breaking the superpowers' long-standing monopoly on intercontinental strategic nuclear weapons. Over the past 46 years, through self-reliance and independent struggle carried forward without interruption, the Dongfeng series of missiles has gradually developed into a family, standing ready at all times to fulfill every mission. Today, a 30-second short video takes you back to the iconic launch footage — every frame is stunning, and watching it again still makes the blood boil. (Authors: Wu Pingping, Zhang Shuo)

Original Chinese
46年前的今天 在一片巨大的轰鸣声中 我国第一枚洲际导弹 “东风5号”成功发射 打破了超级大国对 洲际战略核武器的长期垄断 46年来 独立自主接续奋斗 东风系列导弹已经逐渐发展成为一个家族 随时待命使命必达 今天 30秒短视频带你回顾发射名场面 帧帧震撼 再看还是热血沸腾 (作者:吴苹苹、张硕)