Not to be confused with YJ-83.
YJ-18
Anti-ship cruise missile
land-attack cruise missile[2]
Is missileyes
OriginPeople's Republic of China
Service2015–present[1]
Weight1,579 kg (3,481 lb)[2]
Length8.2 m (27 ft) (with booster)[2]
SpeedMach 0.8 (cruising)
Mach 2.5–3.0 (terminal) (anti-ship variant)
Vehicle range220–540 km mi nmi (anti-ship variant)
Filling140–300 kg lb warhead[1]
GuidanceBeiDou-assisted inertial navigation system (optional mid-course update through datalink)
Terminal active radar homing[3][4]
DetonationHigh explosive[2]
Launch platform
  • Surface ship-launched[1]
  • Submarine-launched[1]
  • Containerized-launched[5][6]

The YJ-18 (Chinese: 鹰击-18; pinyin: yingji-18; literally: 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 sq mi; 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]

See also

Related development

Comparable missiles

References

  1. ^ Pilger: China’s New YJ-18 Antiship Cruise Missile, p.2
  2. ^ "YJ-18". Center for Strategic and International Studies
  3. ^ Pilger: China’s New YJ-18 Antiship Cruise Missile, p.3
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "YJ-18". Center for Strategic and International Studies
  6. ^ Khomenko, Ivan (11 June 2025). "China Revives Russia's Hidden Container Missile System—Now It Can Strike Without Warning". United 24 Media
  7. ^ Gormley, Dennis M.; Erickson, Andrew S.; Yuan, Jingdong (30 September 2014). "A Potent Vector: Assessing Chinese Cruise Missile Developments". Joint Forces Quarterly. ' (75): 102. National Defense University. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  8. ^ United States Office of the Secretary of Defense: Annual Report To Congress 2015, p.46
  9. ^ United States Office of the Secretary of Defense: Annual Report To Congress 2015, p.10
  10. ^ United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence: The PLA Navy, p.16
  11. ^ 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
  12. ^ Rahaman Sarkar, Alisha (3 September 2025). "All the new weapons unveiled by China at Xi Jinping's massive military parade". The Independent
Bibliography