YJ-18

Not to be confused with YJ-83.

YJ-18
Type	Anti-ship cruise missile
Place of origin	People's Republic of China
Service history
In service	2015–present[1]
Specifications
Warhead	140–300 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 km^2),[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]

Operators

 China

•  People's Liberation Army Navy

See also

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

1. Pilger: China’s New YJ-18 Antiship Cruise Missile, p.2
2. Pilger: China’s New YJ-18 Antiship Cruise Missile, p.3
3. 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. United States Office of the Secretary of Defense: Annual Report To Congress 2015, p.46
5. 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

• 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.