It was designed to destroy US Navy ships. It is a missile that can be launched both on the surface and from the depths of the sea, capable of accelerating to supersonic speed just before hitting the target.. In a new report delivered last October 28 to the United States Congress, signed by the "US-China Economic and Security Review" Commission, the effects that such a weapon could have in a hypothetical naval confrontation in the South China Sea are feared.
The YJ-18 travels at a speed of approximately 600 miles per hour, just below the speed of sound and a few meters above the sea surface. About twenty nautical miles from its destination, the missile accelerates three times the speed of sound.
Supersonic speed makes the target extremely difficult to hit. YJ-18's speed and long range, as well as its large-scale deployment, could have serious implications for US NAVY's ability to operate freely in the Western Pacific in the event of a conflict".
According to US Navy intelligence, since last April the Chinese have begun to equip their platforms with the latest generation missiles, while ignoring the weapon system delivered. If it were the YJ-18, the Chinese would have a missile capable of traveling 540 km and hitting the enemy with a 330 kg warhead. China, however, would complain about gaps in terms of targeting, while the command and control system could (and should) be vulnerable to US electromagnetic countermeasures.
They conclude from the Commission. “The YJ-18 is not to be confused with the DF-21 (China's carrier killer) anti-ship ballistic system, shown during the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II. The DF-21 was specifically designed to sink US aircraft carriers. The YJ-18 to eliminate the carrier battle group.
YJ-18
Eagle Strike 18, NATO codenamed CH-SS-NX-13, may be a copy of the Kalibr Russian. In reality, the Chinese equip their “KILO 636” class submarines with the “Klub-S”. But the indigenization (and probably the updating) of Russian projects is now taking place with extreme competence and greater confidence. L'Anti-ship cruise missile Chinese provides a subsonic cruise mode and a supersonic terminal attack. The missile is expected to have a range of 290 nautical miles (540 km), more than double the previous system it replaces, the SS-N-27 Klub.
The YJ-18 can arm both surface ships, such as multi-purpose missile destroyers class Luyang III than submarines. The missile, therefore, can be launched from both VLS and submarine torpedo tubes. The inertial guidance of the missile should use the satellite positioning system of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System. Note that the United States does not have a supersonic ASMC.
The propulsion system of the YJ-18 is shrouded in mystery. In two separate reports from the US Department of Defense, the YJ-18 is described first as a "significant step" and then "dramatic improvement" among the missiles available to the entire Chinese inventory. If the data were confirmed, the Chinese would quadruple the reach of theirs Anti-ship cruise missile launched from submarines.
Dong Feng-21
Already in 2009, commenting on the system, the CIA said that "if it worked it would be absolutely capable of piercing any existing defense." The missile version D of the "Dong Feng-21", flies towards the target at mach 10. The only way to evade an attack carried out by a mach 10 missile whose exact launch point is unknown, would be through the use of electronic countermeasures. The DF-21D exists, but we have no confirmation on its real capabilities. It should have a range of 2500 km and an inertial guidance system with radar active in the terminal phase.
With the money needed to build an aircraft carrier, the Chinese could purchase no less than 1200 DF-21D missiles.
