Isn't LRASM also subsonic with most estimate its top speed at mach 0.8? The guancha trio literally quoted the YJ18c as 鳖LRASM or Chinese LRASM cuz they serve almost the same function with the same flight profiles?
PLA strike strategies in westpac HIC
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YJ-18C doesn't look a plane like JASSM or LRASM does though. Looks very typical Tomahawk type sub-sonic missile with stealthy angular shaping. This is JASSM in comparison. Pretty much a plane.
Tomahawk is longer-ranged than JASSM. I don't understand what you're complaining about, the wings being on the bottom instead of the top?
The size of the wing on YJ-18C seems smaller compared to its length. It looks like a long cylinder with small wings.
JASSM actually looks like a normal Jet aircraft due to its huge wings compared to its length. I am sure there are aero-dynamic efficiencies to be had with such big wings.
I am mainly saying why PLA isn't developing a missile like that.
Ok, well come back once you can quantify the lengths and efficiencies in question. Otherwise there's no substance here to discuss.
Well, this is what I could get from AI:
- JASSM (AGM-158) — length ≈ 4.26 m, extended wingspan ≈ 2.7 m.
- Wingspan / Length = 2.70 / 4.26 = 0.6338 → ~63.4%
- YJ-18 (approx.) — open sources say the YJ-18’s physical dimensions are not officially published but it likely approximates the Russian 3M-54E: length ≈ 8.2 m. Wingspan figures vary by source for the 3M-54 family (used here as a proxy): ~2.2 m → 3.0 m.
- Using wingspan 2.2 m: 2.20 / 8.20 = 0.2683 → ~26.8%
- Using wingspan 3.0 m: 3.00 / 8.20 = 0.3659 → ~36.6%
Significantly bigger wings in JASSM
AI slop is AI slop, and the YJ-18C is also very much not the original YJ-18. Much less the Klub.
I think these are reasonable guesses and you can kinda eyeball the differences in how each missile look.
The main point is not that YJ-18C is bad. I am sure its a good missile. My question is mainly about why PLA chose not to pursue a JASSM like missile with very large wings. What were the trade-offs of both approaches. And if its beneficial for PLA to work on a JASSM like missile. Could they get better range, perhaps 3-4 thousand KM air launched missile with a JASSM like design but as big as YJ-18 in length.
JASSM/LRASM are a smaller weapon than YJ-18C, which is why it is stubbier/shorter and comparatively makes its wings look larger.
AKF-98 (which we saw a few years ago, and which we know is in PLA service and also offered for export as CM-98) has a length/wingspan profile more similar to JASSM/LRASM, which makes sense because it is a shorter ranged and lighter weapon than YJ-18C.
Putting it another way, asking "why PLA isn't developing a missile like that" is a bit of a loaded question, because you make it sound like the JASSM/LRASM form factor is desirable or superior to something like YJ-18C (or indeed, like AGM-181 or Kh-101 or even what LRSO is expected to look like), whereas it is instead that JASSM/LRASM is just... a shorter ranged weapon.