| 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 | |
| Mass | 1,579 kg (3,481 lb)[1] |
| Length | 8.2 m (27 ft) (with booster)[1] |
| Warhead | 140–300 kg (310–660 lb) warhead[2] |
Detonation mechanism | High explosive[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-assisted inertial navigation system (optional mid-course update through datalink) Terminal active radar homing[3][4] |
Launch platform | |
The YJ-18 (Chinese: 鹰击-18; pinyin: yingji-18; lit. 'eagle strike 18', NATO designation CH-SS-NX-13[7]) is a Chinese anti-ship cruise missile.
Description
The United States believes the YJ-18 is similar to,[8] or is a copy of,[7] 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.[8] Performance estimates include a range of 290 nautical miles (330 mi; 540 km),[9] with a threat ring of 264,200 sq nmi (349,900 mi2; 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.[7]
The missile can be launched from vertical launching systems,[10] and possibly from submarine torpedo tubes.[7] 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.[4]
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.[9][3] A land-based version could replace the subsonic 400 km (250 mi; 220 nmi)-range YJ-62 with shore batteries.[3][7]
Variants
- YJ-18
- Original version, launched from torpedo tubes.[5]
- YJ-18A
- Launched from vertical launch system (VLS) cells on surface vessels. It entered service in 2015.[5]
- YJ-18B
- Designed for vertical launch systems (VLS) on submarines.[5]
- YJ-18C
- Land-attack variant designed to be disguised in commercial shipping containers.[5] It's a subsonic missile with a stealth design.[11] Unveiled at the 2025 China Victory Day Parade.[12]
Operators
See also
Related development
- YJ-12 – (China)
Comparable missiles
- 3M-54 Klub – (Russia)
- BrahMos – (India, Russia)
- P-800 Oniks – (Russia)
- Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon – (France, Italy, United Kingdom)
- 3M-54 Kalibr – (Russia)
References
- "YJ-18". Center for Strategic and International Studies.
- Pilger: China’s New YJ-18 Antiship Cruise Missile, p.2
- Pilger: China’s New YJ-18 Antiship Cruise Missile, p.3
- "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.
- "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.
- 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.
- United States Office of the Secretary of Defense: Annual Report To Congress 2015, p.46
- 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
- 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.