YJ-1

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YJ-1

Start of a C-802 produced in Iran
Start of a C-802 produced in Iran

General Information
Type Anti-ship missile
Local name C-801, YJ-1, YJ-8, 鹰 击 1, 鹰 击 8, C-802, YJ-2, YJ-8, 鹰 击 8
NATO designation CSS-N-4 sardine, CSS-N-8 saccade
Country of origin China People's RepublicPeople's Republic of China People's Republic of China
Manufacturer CHEMTA and CPMIEC
development 1976
Commissioning YJ-1 : 1987
YJ-2 : 1995
Technical specifications
length YJ-1 : 4.65 m (without booster)
YJ-2 : 5.31 m (without booster)
diameter 360 mm
Combat weight YJ-1 : 655 kg (without booster)
YJ-2 : 555 kg (without booster)
span 1650 mm
Drive
First stage
Second stage
Solid fuel booster
YJ-1 : Solid rocket engine
YJ-2 : Turbojet
speed YJ-1 : Mach 0.9
YJ-2 : Mach 0.7-0.8
Range YJ-1 : 40-50 km
YJ-2 : 120-130 km
Furnishing
steering Inertial navigation system
Target location active radar seeker
Warhead 165 kg high explosive armor piercing
Detonator Impact and delay detonators
Weapon platforms Airplanes, helicopters, ships, submarines, vehicles
Lists on the subject

The YJ-1 is an anti-ship missile from the People's Republic of China . The export name is C-801 Eagle Strike . In her country of origin she is also called Yingji 1 or 鹰 击 1 . In the west it bears the NATO code name CSS-N-4 Sardine . The YJ-1 forms the basis of an entire family of guided missiles. This is how the YJ-2 (Yingji 2) version was created in the 1980s . This version was named CSS-N-8 Saccade by NATO . The export name of this version is C-802 . The guided missiles can be used by ships, submarines, vehicles, helicopters and aircraft.

development

There is conflicting information about the origin of the YJ-1. For one, it is believed that the design of the YJ-1 is based on the French Exocet . This seems quite plausible, as the YJ-1 looks very similar to the Exocet. In the mid-1970s, the People's Republic of China also tried to procure Exocet anti-ship missiles in France and from export customers. At least in the case of France, there was no acquisition because China considered the Exocet to be too expensive. Other sources assume that the YJ-1 is an entirely custom design from the People's Republic of China. Development under the local name YJ-1 probably began in 1976 and was first observed by the West in 1984. In 1986 it was officially presented to the public at the Paris Air Show under the designation C-801 Eagle Strike . From this point on, the weapon was also offered on the export market . Initial Operating Capability was achieved in 1987 with the installation of the first guided missiles on ships of the Navy of the People's Republic of China . Based on the YJ-1, a whole family of anti-ship missiles was created in the years that followed. This is how the YJ-2 version was later developed , which is powered by a turbojet engine and has a significantly greater range of 120 km. Development of the YJ-2 probably began in the mid-1980s. The YJ-1 anti-ship missile, which was in the test phase at the time, served as the basis. For this purpose, the solid rocket engine of the YJ-1 was replaced by a fuselage segment that was 66 cm longer. A turbojet engine and the associated aviation fuel were housed in this. The first versions used a replica of a turbojet engine based on that of a recovered BQM-34 Firebee - US reconnaissance drone. A copy of the TRI-60-2 turbo jet is used for later versions . This engine, which originated in France, is replicated in China using reverse engineering . The YJ-2 was presented to the public in 1988 while development work was still ongoing. It was also offered on the export market from this point in time. The flight tests presumably took place between 1994 and 1995. The initial operating capability was probably reached in November 1995. In the same year, the YJ-2 was also observed in Iran . A little later, in 1997, the YJ-2 was observed on destroyers of the Luhai class (Type 051B) of the Navy of the People's Republic of China.

technology

Until the introduction of the YJ-1, the anti-ship missiles of the People's Republic of China were based on the Soviet P-15 Termit (NATO code name SS-N-2 Styx). These anti-ship missiles were large and heavy guided missiles that were considered obsolete in the West. The introduction of the compact YJ-1 represented a radical departure from the practice of large anti-ship missiles and a technological approach to western anti-ship missiles. By installing the YJ-1 on ships of the People's Republic of China, the clout of the Navy of the People's Republic of China could be increased significantly. The YJ-1 was also the first anti-ship missile made in China that could be used by tactical combat aircraft. According to Japanese sources, the YJ-1 has a 75% hit probability.

The YJ-1/2 can be used by airplanes, helicopters, ships, submarines or vehicles. Before the start, the coordinates and the course of the target must be transmitted to the missile's navigation system . These are determined by the respective launch platform using radar , sonar or ELINT . The YJ-1 is a fire-and-forget weapon and the guided weapon finds its target after take-off without further intervention by operators.

The ship-based version of the YJ-1 has a length of 5.81 m and weighs 815 kg. The air-supported version does not have a solid fuel booster , is 4.65 m long and weighs 655 kg. The YJ-1 can be roughly divided into four sections. The seeker head and the on-board electronics are located in the ogival guided weapon tip. The seeker head is an actively working monopulse radar seeker head that works in a frequency range of 10–20  GHz ( J-band ). Behind it is the high-explosive armor-piercing warhead weighing 165 kg . The solid rocket engine follows directly . The rocket nozzle is located in the rear of the guided missile. The actuators for the steering blades are located next to the rocket nozzle . Depending on the version, a solid fuel booster is attached to the rear of the missile , which is thrown off after it has burned out.

The ship-based version of the YJ-2 is 6.39 m long and weighs 715 kg. The air-supported version does not have a solid fuel booster, is 5.31 m long and weighs 555 kg. The structure is the same as the YJ-1 version. Opposite this, the YJ-2 is powered by a turbojet engine instead of a solid rocket engine. The front fuselage section is the same as that of the YJ-1. The fuel tank is located behind the warhead. The air inlet for the cruise engine is located in this section on the underside of the fuselage. The turbojet engine is housed in the rear of the guided missile. The actuators for the steering blades are located next to the engine. As with the YJ-1, a solid fuel booster is attached to the rear of the guided missile , which is thrown off after it has burned out.

C-802 launch container on a Jiangwei-class frigate

The ship-based versions of the YJ-1/2 are installed in watertight, angular double starting canisters made of aluminum on the ship's deck . The starting canisters have a fixed elevation of 10–15 °. They can be installed on small missile speedboats as well as on larger frigates and destroyers . The start takes place with the help of the solid fuel booster on the rear of the guided missile. After leaving the steel container, the folding wings unfold. With the help of the booster, the missile rises to a height of around 50 m. After the booster has burned out, it is discarded and the cruise engine ignites. Now the missile sinks to a cruising altitude of 20-30 m. A radar altimeter ensures the necessary safety distance between the guided missiles and the sea surface. The navigation during the cruise is carried out by means of an inertial navigation platform . Once in the target area, the missile activates the active radar seeker head. The seeker automatically switches to the previously determined radar contact or to the largest radar target. Once the target has been captured, the missile sinks to an altitude of 5–7 m (depending on the sea ). In the optimal case, the guided weapon penetrates the ship's side wall and the 165 kg warhead detonates inside the ship with a short delay. If the target protrudes only a little out of the water, it is possible that the guided weapon is flying over it. In this case, the warhead is a proximity fuse for detonation brought. In the optimal case, this takes place while the guided weapon is above the superstructure of the target. During the detonation, the target experiences a gas hammer effect and is covered with splinters.

The land-based versions of the YJ-1/2 are used for coastal defense and are installed on trucks . Two to three starting canisters are housed on each vehicle. A typical battery consists of four launch vehicles with YJ-1 guided missiles, one vehicle with the fire control radar and another vehicle with a generator to supply the battery with energy. As with the ship-based version, the guided weapons are started from the starter canisters using the solid fuel booster. The course of the flight is analogous to the ship-based version.

C-802A at Farnborough International Airshow 2010

The airborne versions of the YJ-1/2 can be used by airplanes and helicopters . In contrast to the ship-based versions, these versions do not require a start booster. After it has been released, there is initially a short phase with no drive. The cruise engine only ignites at a safe distance from the aircraft or helicopter. Then the missile sinks to a cruising altitude of 20–30 m. From this phase on, the rest of the flight takes place analogously to the ship-based execution. The CHAIC Z-8 helicopter , the Chengdu FC-1 , Nanchang Q-5 , Xian JH-7 and the Xian H-6 bomber serve as launch platforms .

The first version of the submarine-based YJ-1/2 was for testing purposes on a modified submarine of the Ming-class installed. This boat was later named Wuhan (Type 033). On this boat, the six guided weapons were housed in launch and transport containers outside the pressure hull at the height of the tower . The submarine could only launch the guided missiles while it was sailing above the water. The later versions can be launched from the 533mm standard torpedo tubes . For this purpose, the guided weapons are stored in sealed protective containers in the torpedo room of the submarine. For the start, the protective container with the guided weapon is pushed into a torpedo tube. The protective container is pushed out of the torpedo tube by means of gas pressure. After leaving the torpedo tube, the protective container dips to the surface of the water by means of a rocket booster. After penetrating the surface of the water, the protective container rises to a height of around 50 m. There the cap of the protective container is blown off, the booster of the missile ignites and drives it out of the protective container. Then the wings unfold and the guided missile takes on the cruising altitude. The further course of the flight is analogous to the ship-based version. In the Navy of the People's Republic of China, the submarine-based YJ-1 is installed on the Han-class (Type 091) and Song-class (Type 039) submarines .

Versions

There is a large number of names and abbreviations for the YJ-1 and its further developments.

designation Export designation Launch platform drive comment
YJ-1 C-801 Ships & vehicles Booster & rocket engine Original design, NATO code name CSS-N-4 Sardine, range 42 km
YJ-2 C-802 Ships, vehicles Booster & Turbojet Version of the YJ-1 with turbojet engine, NATO code name CSS-N-8 Saccade, range 120 km
YJ-12 C-801A Ships, vehicles Booster & rocket engine Version of the YJ-1 with folding wings, range 42 km
YJ-8 C-801 Ships & vehicles Booster & rocket engine Improved design of the YJ-1 with new electronics.
YJ-8A C-801A Ships & vehicles Booster & rocket engine Version of the YJ-8 with folding wings, introduced in 1992
YJ-81 C-801A Airplanes & helicopters Rocket engine Airborne version of the YJ-2, range 50 km, introduced in 1989
YJ-8K C-801K Airplanes & helicopters Rocket engine Airborne version of the YJ-8
YJ-8Q C-801Q Submarines Booster & rocket engine Submarine-based version of the YJ-8A, range 30–35 km
YJ-82 C-802 Submarines Booster & Turbojet Submarine-based version of the YJ-2, introduced in 2003
YJ-21 C-802A Ships & vehicles Booster & Turbojet Execution of the YJ-2 with folding wings
YJ-82K C-802K Airplanes & helicopters Turbojet Improved version of the YJ-21 with new electronics, range 150–160 km
YJ-83 C-803 Ships & vehicles Booster & Turbojet Improved YJ-2 with improved steering system and new electronics, range 180 km, introduced in 1998
YJ-82K C-802AK Airplanes & helicopters Turbojet Airborne version of the YJ-82, range 230–250 km, introduced in 2002

→ Source of the data

commitment

During the 2006 Lebanon War , Hezbollah launched two land-based C-801s or C-802s on July 16. The destination was the INS Hanit, a Sa'ar-5 class corvette of the Israeli Navy . The ship was about 18 km off the coast of Beirut . One of the two guided missiles hit the INS Hanit just above the waterline on the starboard side . The second guided missile missed the INS Hanit and instead hit an off-road cargo ship . The ship sailing under the Cambodian flag was about 60 km from the coast. The hit on the INS Hanit caused a fire on board, which briefly caused the electrical power supply and the propulsion system to fail. After the fire could be brought under control hours later, the ship called at the port of Ashdod and was later repaired. Four crew members were killed in the attack. Since no structural damage can be seen on photos of the damaged INS Hanit, it can be assumed that the warhead of the guided weapon did not detonate.

Other missions took place in Yemen during the civil war . In autumn 2015, the parties to the civil war fired anti-ship missiles at ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea . The guided missiles used were probably the C-801 or C-802 models, which were launched by the Houthi from the mainland. In addition to several hits on civilian tankers , hits were also made on warships from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates . United States Navy warships were also fired at, but without getting hit.

In 2020, during a sea target shooting by the Iranian Navy , the aid ship Konarak was accidentally hit, which was positioning the sea targets. 19 seafarers were killed and 15 others injured.

distribution

literature

  • Duncan Lennox: Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems. Edition 2001, 34th edition Edition, Jane's Information Group, 2001, ISBN 0-7106-0880-2 .
  • Duncan Lennox: Jane's Air launched Weapon, Edition 1995. Jane's Information Group, 1995, ISBN 0-7106-0866-7 .
  • Stephen Chumbley: Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1947-1995. US Naval Institute Press, 1995, ISBN 1-55750-132-7 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e Christopher P. Carlson: China's Eagle Strike-Eight Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles: Designation Confusion and the Family Members from YJ-8 to YJ-8A. In: defensemedianetwork.com. Defense Media Network, February 4, 2013, accessed May 25, 2017 .
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h Duncan Lenox: Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems, Edition 2001. 2001. pp. 61-63.
  3. ↑ a b Michael Pilger: China's New YJ-18 Antiship Cruise Missile: Capabilities and Implications for US Forces in the Western Pacific. (PDF) In: uscc.gov. US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, September 15, 2015, accessed May 25, 2017 .
  4. ↑ a b c d Duncan Lenox: Jane's Air launched Weapon, Edition 1995. 2001, pp. 89-99.
  5. ↑ a b c Christopher P. Carlson: China's Eagle Strike-Eight Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles: The YJ-83, C803, and the Family Tree. In: defensemedianetwork.com. Defense Media Network, February 8, 2013, accessed May 25, 2017 .
  6. ↑ a b c d Christopher P. Carlson: China's Eagle Strike-Eight Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles: YJ-81, YJ-82, and C802. In: defensemedianetwork.com. Defense Media Network, February 6, 2013, accessed May 25, 2017 .
  7. ↑ a b Dr. Carlo Kopp: PLA Cruise Missiles. In: ausairpower.net. Air Power Australia, accessed May 25, 2017 .
  8. ^ Missile Index. In: missile.index.ne.jp. Retrieved May 25, 2016 .
  9. ↑ a b c Stephen Chumbley: Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1947-1995. Pp. 64-65.
  10. ↑ a b Противокорабельная ракета средней дальности YJ-82 (C-802). In: rbase.new-factoria.ru. Retrieved May 25, 2017 (Russian).
  11. ↑ a b c d YJ-83. In: Deagel.com. Deagel, May 12, 2017, accessed May 25, 2017 .
  12. ↑ a b David Eshel: INS Hanit Suffers Iranian Missile Attack. In: defense-update.com. Defense Update, June 16, 2006, archived from the original on March 9, 2017 ; accessed on May 25, 2017 (English).
  13. ↑ Mark Mazzetti: Striking Deep Into Israel, Hamas Employs an Upgraded Arsenal. In: nytimes.com. The New York Times, December 31, 2008, accessed May 25, 2017 .
  14. ↑ Jeremy Binnie: Analysis: Mystery of the Red Sea missiles continues. In: Janes.com. IHS Jane's Defense Weekly, April 2, 2015, archived from the original on March 13, 2017 ; accessed on May 30, 2017 (English).
  15. ^ The conflict in Yemen: Marine Risks. (PDF) In: ihs.com. IHS Jane's, April 2, 2015, accessed May 30, 2017 .
  16. ↑ a b To Threaten Ships, the Houthis Improvised a Missile Strike Force. In: warisboring.com. War is Boring, October 15, 2016, accessed May 30, 2017 .
  17. ↑ 19 dead in rocket launch: Iran sinks its own warship. In: n-tv.de. May 11, 2020, accessed May 12, 2020 .
  18. ↑ a b c d e f g h SIPRI Arms Transfers Database. In: sipri.org. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, accessed May 25, 2017 .