PLAN Anti-ship/surface missiles

Finally, a profile view.

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definitely shorter and fatter than the Russian Klub.

Tam said:

Looks like a SAM to me. If this is a new long range SAM, this is by itself a very exciting development.
Why SAM?
--- Long mid body fins
--- Short stubby booster
--- Launched vertically from a tube.

A ballistic missile is free from long mid body fins, except for small fins at the bottom of the second stage.
BMs use a long primary stage rocket.
BMs in the PLARF are launched not from tubes.
Cruise missiles are launched from tubes and do have stubby boosters but on land, they are launched from a slanted position, nor do they feature four mid body wings like that.

The size of the missile and its launch canister relative to the wheeled trailer would be consistent to a large SAM.

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There is nothing about cruise missiles which necessitates a slant launch (especially given the expected high altitude flight profile of a hypersonic cruise missile). Multiple VLS-launched cruise missiles are vertically launched and subsequently tip over towards the target during the ascent. That said, I do think it could certainly possibly be some kind of ultra-long-range SAM, like an SM-3 type of missile designed to intercept ballistic missiles.

Insignius said:

definitely shorter and fatter than the Russian Klub.

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The YJ-18 is clearly an indigenized Klub.

Tweet from, and artwork of his own. Comparing the different sizes of missiles. CJ-10 on top, followed by HQ-9, YU-8, HQ-16 and YJ-18 in that order.



元々YJ-83Kのベースがあったので、翼の折り畳み機構と加速用ブースターつけてYJ-83は終わり。
Translated from Japanese by Google.
Originally there was a YJ-83K base, so YJ-83 ended with a wing folding mechanism and acceleration booster.

A magazine scan of YJ-18s from a parade rehearsal.

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Not sure if it can be taken seriously. An ASBM has been speculated for the ship but further verification is desired.



本日の文字ニュース：YJ―2 Xは055型駆逐艦のVLSが搭載されていると噂されており，弾道式の高超音速ASBMであり，空軍が使用しているPL−2 Xはステルス戦闘機を発見・攻撃することができ，現在のところ情報源は正確ではなく，基本的に推測であるが，
Translated from Japanese by Google
Today's letter news: The YJ-2X is rumored to be equipped with a V55 destroyer of type 055, is a ballistic high-supersonic ASBM, and is a PL used by the Air Force. − 2 X can detect and attack stealth fighters, and at present the source of the information is not accurate and is basically speculative,

A very old illustration of YJ-18, I believe. I'm sure it had been shared a very long time ago, but probably has been lost to time. It shows three states/phases of the missile, from top to bottom: stored in a canister (for VLS), cruise phase, terminal phase.

Man, one wonders where they manage to cram even enough fuel for just a few km range. It's as if there's less than a meter of space between the terminal projectile and the engine, for fuel. That's likely less than 200 liters of fuel (160 kg). I don't believe the frontal "hollow shell" part of the missile can hold much if any fuel, as it has to be structurally beefy to hold the terminal projectile in place.

Then again, Tomahawk is usually said to hold 350 to 450 kg of fuel. And allegedly covers 1800 to 2500 km.

So... imagine if YJ18 somehow had 50% beefier fuel tank...

Totoro said:

Man, one wonders where they manage to cram even enough fuel for just a few km range. It's as if there's less than a meter of space between the terminal projectile and the engine, for fuel. That's likely less than 200 liters of fuel (160 kg). I don't believe the frontal "hollow shell" part of the missile can hold much if any fuel, as it has to be structurally beefy to hold the terminal projectile in place.

Then again, Tomahawk is usually said to hold 350 to 450 kg of fuel. And allegedly covers 1800 to 2500 km.

So... imagine if YJ18 somehow had 50% beefier fuel tank...

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The picture doesn't capture the later version like you see on the parade where the large spine that supports the rocket could be containing its own fuel.

The frontal part of the missile is a solid fuel rocket of its own. Once it detaches from the cruise missile stage, the rocket ignites and zooms toward the target. Given its size, I don't think the rocket detaches only at terminal stage which 30 to 40km once the missile reaches the visible or clear line of sight, radar horizon of its target. The rocket may detach way before that, perhaps even half way of its total range. Its like an S-300 SAM missile heading towards you low.

If you don't have a rocket, and the YJ-18 is a single stage, subsonic only cruise missile that's like a Tomahawk, then the potential range is much greater as the space for the rocket is now mostly fuel, warhead and guidance system.

Has the PLA decided to settle on which ASHM to use? YJ-12 or YJ-18 or CJ-100

It seems like the navy prefers YJ-18 as its the only one that can be vertically launched, but coastal defence and fighters prefer YJ-12. I don't think I've seen the CJ-100 other than the one time it was shown at parade.