YJ-18
| YJ-18 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Anti-ship cruise missile land-attack cruise missile[1] |
| Place of origin | People's Republic of China |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2015–present[2] |
| Specifications | |
| Warhead | 140–300 kg (310–660 lb) warhead[2] |
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[3] |
Launch platform | |
The YJ-18 (Chinese: 鹰击-18; pinyin: yingji-18; lit. 'eagle strike 18', NATO designation CH-SS-NX-13[6]) is a Chinese anti-ship cruise missile.
Description
[edit]The United States believes the YJ-18 is similar to,[7] or is a copy of,[6] 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.[7] Performance estimates include a range of 290 nautical miles (330 mi; 540 km),[8] with a threat ring of 264,200 sq nmi (349,900 sq mi; 906,000 km2),[3] 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.[6]
The missile can be launched from vertical launching systems,[9] and possibly from submarine torpedo tubes.[6] 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.[10]
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.[8][3] A land-based version could replace the subsonic 400 km (250 mi; 220 nmi)-range YJ-62 with shore batteries.[3][6]
Variants
[edit]- YJ-18
- Original version, launched from torpedo tubes.[4]
- YJ-18A
- Launched from vertical launch system (VLS) cells on surface vessels. It entered service in 2015.[4]
- YJ-18B
- Designed for vertical launch systems (VLS) on submarines.[4]
- YJ-18C
- Land-attack variant designed to be disguised in commercial shipping containers.[4] It's a subsonic missile with a stealth design.[11] Unveiled at the 2025 China Victory Day Parade.[12]
Operators
[edit]
People's Liberation Army Navy
- Type 052D destroyer Luyang 3 class.
- Type 055 destroyer Renhai Class.
- Type 039 submarine Song Class.
- Type 039A submarine Yuan Class.
- Type 093 submarine Shang Class.
See also
[edit]Related development
- YJ-12 – (China)
Comparable missiles
- 3M-54 Klub – (Russia)
- BrahMos – (Russia, India)
- P-800 Oniks – (Russia)
- Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon – (France, Italy, United Kingdom)
- 3M-54 Kalibr – (Russia)
References
[edit]- ^ "YJ-18".
- ^ a b c d Pilger: China’s New YJ-18 Antiship Cruise Missile, p.2
- ^ a b c d Pilger: China’s New YJ-18 Antiship Cruise Missile, p.3
- ^ a b c d e "YJ-18". Center for Strategic and International Studies.
- ^ Khomenko, Ivan (11 June 2025). "China Revives Russia's Hidden Container Missile System—Now It Can Strike Without Warning". United 24 Media.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ a b United States Office of the Secretary of Defense: Annual Report To Congress 2015, p.46
- ^ a b United States Office of the Secretary of Defense: Annual Report To Congress 2015, p.10
- ^ United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence: The PLA Navy, p.16
- ^ "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.
- ^ Loh, Matthew; Tan, Kwan Wei Kevin (29 August 2025). "Satellite photos show China prepping to display a full lineup of anti-ship missiles for countering the US Navy". Business Insider.
- ^ Rahaman Sarkar, Alisha (3 September 2025). "All the new weapons unveiled by China at Xi Jinping's massive military parade". The Independent.
- Bibliography
- Pilger, Michael (25 October 2015). China's New YJ-18 Antiship Cruise Missile: Capabilities and Implications for U.S. Forces in the Western Pacific (PDF) (Report). United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence (2015). The PLA Navy: New Capabilities and Missions for the 21st Century (PDF) (Report). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
- United States Office of the Secretary of Defense (8 May 2015). Annual Report To Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2015 (PDF) (Report). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2015.