2008 October.11 (China Defense Mashup Reporting by Johnathan Weng) — China PLA Navy’s “LanZhou” (Type 052C) Class Aegis destroyers (DDG170 and DDG171) are well-known in world military experts. Active Array Phase Radar and Chinese style cold vertical launching system are being focused by other countries’ naval intelligence. However, these are defense systems. And the most killing machine in Type 052C Destroyer, is 2*4 YJ-62 anti-ship missile. Just since DDG170 and DDG171 entering service in PLA navy, the mysterious YJ-62 has no close views. Now some clear YJ-62 pictures came out via Chinese Internet.

There are totally 3 new pictures now available. The actual photographing time perhaps is year of 2005 or 2004. They can display that the YJ-62 has conventional shape with columnar body. Under the rear body of missile, a ventral rectangular-circular shape intake is for turbo engine. A twin of foldable straight wings is installed in the both sides in the middle of missile body, and they expanded after missile launching. From the back view, the X tail fins are foldable and interface with rocket booster can be seen on the missile afterbody. The head is transparency and cover by some kind of radar radome. By some other reference pictures, the diameter can be predicted as 533–600 mm and length is about 6 meters. Some resources said that YJ-62’s range is over 500 km and has a huge 300 kg warhead. And the photo is a good argument to support this guess.

From the outside view, there is no windows for optical seeker, so the missile is probably equipped with active/passive radar seeker. The mid-course guidance system of YJ-62 is probably a combination of INS+ mid-course correction + Beidou Positioning System. But perhaps YJ-62 has complex terminal guidance system to raise the hit rate.

Now it can concluded that the YJ-62 is one kind of missile with turbo-jet (gas or coal oil) power, unlike previous rocket powered YJ-83 anti-ship missile and “Mosquito” super-sonic missile equipped in DDG 136 “Hangzhou” Sovremenny class destroyer. It almost can be insured that YJ-62 is sub-sonic and long range anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM).

Large warhead, long range and multi-guidance shows that YJ-62 missile is just called by China as “shashoujian” (assassin’s mace’) to penetrate the defending system (about 400 km) and destroy US navy carriers.

For years, China military experts in public are always praising the huge power of Russian super-sonic missiles, especially their power to destroyer large warships like U.S aircraft carriers. China also has planned to produce “Mosquito” as YJ-91 for its Sovremenny class destroyer. It is ironic that the reality is converse. The mainstream of china’s next generation anti-ship missile is sub-sonic, like AGM-84, although China has super-sonic missile development ability. Now the condition is: surface and air launching super-sonic missiles are being spread in countries and areas around China.

Taiwan just put on its Hsiung Feng-III super sonic missile on a Cheng Kung Class destroyer and declared its range as 600 km. Meanwhile, India has decided to import Russian “Brahmos” supersonic missile. Besides, Japan JASDF displayed new supersonic air-launching ASM-3 ramjet powered missile for F-2 fighter.

This reality is quite interesting. From the outside view and specifications, YJ-62 has many similarities to “Tomahawk” cruise missile. It is conceivable that China is going to develop a cruise missile family launched from fighter, surface warship and submarine to attack surface objects. Once a PLA truck with huge tube was pictured in China expressway in 2006. It perhaps is a mobile ground-launched YJ-62 Missile variant.

YJ-62 reflects PLA navy’s requirements on anti-ship missile: long range is prior to satisfy assaulting outside the firepower range of U.S. carrier group; low detectable (sea-skimming attacking) to penetrate the defending circle. So the cruise velocity is not a necessary option. Besides, Chinese missile designers deem supersonic speed shortens the range, raises missile body IR radiation and increases the flight control system’s difficulties in sea skimming flight.

Another important reason is that U.S. has purchase kinds of Russian supersonic missile for testing target. And China believes that Americans have found some ways to defend supersonic missile.

How China, India, Japan and Taiwan choose their anti-ship missile clearly show that the dissimilarities in prospective foe and combat object lead different demands. Obviously, in the possible sea fight in west pacific, YJ-62 is of course a lethal killer to surface ship defending system, including radar, air defense missile and close-in weapon system.