YJ-18

Not to be confused with YJ-83.
YJ-18
TypeAnti-ship cruise missile
Place of originPeople's Republic of China
Service history
In service2015–present[1]
Specifications
Warhead140–300 kg (310–660 lb) warhead[1]
Operational
range
220–540 km (140–340 mi; 120–290 nmi) (anti-ship variant)
Maximum speed Mach 0.8 (cruising)
Mach 2.5–3.0 (terminal) (anti-ship variant)
Guidance
system
BeiDou Navigation Satellite System
onboard radar seeker[2]
Launch
platform
  • Surface ship-launched[1]
  • Submarine-launched[1]

The YJ-18 (Chinese: 鹰击-18; pinyin: yingji-18; lit. 'eagle strike 18', NATO designation CH-SS-NX-13[3]) is a Chinese anti-ship cruise missile.

Description

The United States believes the YJ-18 is similar to,[4] or is a copy of,[3] the Russian 3M-54 Klub. According to the United States Department of Defense, the YJ-18 has a subsonic cruise mode and a supersonic terminal attack.[4] Performance estimates include a range of 290 nautical miles (330 mi; 540 km),[5] with a threat ring of 264,200 sq nmi (349,900 sq mi; 906,000 km2),[2] and a cruising range of 180 km (110 mi; 97 nmi) at Mach 0.8 and a sprint range of 40 km (25 mi; 22 nmi) at Mach 2.5 to 3.0.[3]

The missile can be launched from vertical launching systems,[6] and possibly from submarine torpedo tubes.[3] Chinese media claims the missile has an inertial guidance system using BeiDou Navigation Satellite System data, and carries a 300 kg (660 lb) high-explosive warhead with an anti-radiation seeker.[7]

The YJ-18 is deployed aboard the Type 052D destroyer and the Type 055 destroyer. It may already be carried by the Shang II-class nuclear attack submarine outfitted with VLS cells, will replace the 20 nmi (23 mi; 37 km)-range YJ-82 aboard the Yuan-class air-independent propulsion (AIP) and Song-class diesel-electric submarines, will likely deploy on the Type 095 submarine, and may be capable of deployment on Kilo-class submarines.[5][2] A land-based version could replace the subsonic 400 km (250 mi; 220 nmi)-range YJ-62 with shore batteries.[2][3]

See also

Related development

Comparable missiles

References

  1. ^ a b c d Pilger: China’s New YJ-18 Antiship Cruise Missile, p.2
  2. ^ a b c d Pilger: China’s New YJ-18 Antiship Cruise Missile, p.3
  3. ^ a b c d e Gormley, Dennis M.; Erickson, Andrew S.; Yuan, Jingdong (30 September 2014). "A Potent Vector: Assessing Chinese Cruise Missile Developments". Joint Forces Quarterly (75). National Defense University: 102. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  4. ^ a b United States Office of the Secretary of Defense: Annual Report To Congress 2015, p.46
  5. ^ a b United States Office of the Secretary of Defense: Annual Report To Congress 2015, p.10
  6. ^ United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence: The PLA Navy, p.16
  7. ^ "简氏称中国鹰击-18反舰导弹可"空中急拐弯"(图)". mil.news.sina.com.cn. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
Bibliography