2025 Victory Day parade thread (workup, 3rd Sept)

[TheWanderWit]

That is what I thought too, but perhaps YJ-18B is actually a subsonic long range version of YJ-18 but with a conventional/Tomahawk/DF-10/Kalibr esque appearance.
YJ-18C replacing "YJ-18B" would make sense if that was the case...

Are we even sure that something in that design form even exists for one the YJ-18 variants, and isn't instead capable of both dual anti-ship/land attack missions in the same missile rather than being separate variants? I remember reading a comment that you posted in another thread from a few years back, and you said pretty much the same thing. But, it's not like images/videos of YJ-18 launches from PLAN ships are rare, there's plenty. Yet all of them show YJ-18 with its pointier end, but none with a rounded end like a CJ-10/Kalibr/Tomahawk LACMs.

So, I think either such a variant for primarily land-attack missions with that design doesn't exist, and instead the YJ-18 missile is capable of both dual anti-ship/land attack missions, but at the same time, we do know the PLAN does land-attack exercises/drills, but in all of the YJ-18 images/videos over the years, we've never seen such a YJ-18 variant with a rounded end that is strictly a LACM. Assuming it does exist, I can't really see as to why they'd hide such a thing if the reasoning is political/message wise. A YJ-18 AShM is still an offensive weapon, and they've published numerous images and videos of it being launched over the years. I believe there's even one video showing a YJ-18 hitting a target ship?

 

[Blitzo]

Are we even sure that something in that design form even exists for one the YJ-18 variants, and isn't instead capable of both dual anti-ship/land attack missions in the same missile rather than being separate variants? I remember reading a comment that you posted in another thread from a few years back, and you said pretty much the same thing. But, it's not like images/videos of YJ-18 launches from PLAN ships are rare, there's plenty. Yet all of them show YJ-18 with its pointier end, but none with a rounded end like a CJ-10/Kalibr/Tomahawk LACMs.

So, I think either such a variant for primarily land-attack missions with that design doesn't exist, and instead the YJ-18 missile is capable of both dual anti-ship/land attack missions, but at the same time, we do know the PLAN does land-attack exercises/drills, but in all of the YJ-18 images/videos over the years, we've never seen such a YJ-18 variant with a rounded end that is strictly a LACM. Assuming it does exist, I can't really see as to why they'd hide such a thing if the reasoning is political/message wise. A YJ-18 AShM is still an offensive weapon, and they've published numerous images and videos of it being launched over the years. I believe there's even one video showing a YJ-18 hitting a target ship?

The whole basis of my previous post was the statement from Yankee that YJ-18B has been in production for 10 years but that we've never seen it.

Everything else is based upon that statement being true.

if its longer range, what will be its range compared to standard YJ-18?

Who knows, would depend on the specifics of propellant and flight profile.

But as a standard subsonic cruise missile of its size, anywhere from 1500-2500km could be plausible.

 

[by78]

A series of photos taken of rehearsals and around Beijing.

 

[Boundary]

All speculation here, but I believe the YJ-18 AShM utilizes Beidou and an anti-radiation seeker in the terminal phase -- perhaps this is housed in the pointy-nosed YJ-18A?

YJ-18B could be the LACM variant using a rounded nose due to not needing an ARM seeker. (even more egregious speculation here) YJ-18B could have thus been reasonably procured in parallel with YJ-18A (AShM) in smaller quantities (or smaller significance, leading it to not be shown at the 2019 parade) due to a prioritization of anti-ship duties over land attack duties -- also could be a reason why they weren't shown in any prior exercises.

Of course, maybe by being a LACM and not requiring a supersonic sprint terminal phase, its design differed significantly from the YJ-18A and now shares many similarities internally to its successor, the YJ-18C, which may serve dual roles as an LACM and an AShM?

 

[by78]

Various land systems spotted around Beijing.

 

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[by78]