Yes, he was essentially indicating that the UVLS's scramjet "target missile" is ready.
PLAN Anti-ship/surface missiles
- Thread starter tphuang
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Yes, I think when the parade occurred the commentary was that the UVLS scramjet hypersonic ashm was one weapon that was absent from the parade but had met the readiness threshold to be present if the PLA wanted it so.
Does anyone know if the YJ-18C is a purely air-launched weapon or VLS-launchable? I've heard a few times that it was intended for VLS launch, but I'm not sure. From looking at the mockups from the parade, I don't see any protrusions at the top to hook onto aircraft if it is an air-launched weapon.
But at the same time, I assumed it was, as the parade vehicle it was on was "ZL", which IIRC means "Strategic" rather than the parade vehicles with the naval designation (which I forgot). I assumed it was meant for H-6's.
But at the same time, I assumed it was, as the parade vehicle it was on was "ZL", which IIRC means "Strategic" rather than the parade vehicles with the naval designation (which I forgot). I assumed it was meant for H-6's.
I think it is unlikely for it to be air launchable in the first place. The original YJ-18 was never adapted for air launch. Also, historically, the UVLS and H-6 never shared a munition
So then I guess that means it is a UVLS-launchable munition. Which then means China has five(!) different types of UVLS-capable AShMs to launch off their DDGs of all categories (YJ-18, YJ-18C, YJ-17, YJ-HCM, YJ-20). I would assume like most munitions China possesses, it has dual land-attack/anti-ship capability. This is quite the diverse setup that no other navy comes close on their equivalent surface combatants.
I previously raised the exact same point w.r.t. (missing) suspension lugs on YJ-18C in another thread.
PLA Navy news, pics and videos
Seems rather foolish to produce a missile which is slightly too large for 533mm tubes, but nonetheless wastes much of the space in a 850mm cell. What are you optimizing for? I would expect them to just go cleansheet at that point. I wouldn't say it wastes much of the space of a 850mm VLS cell...
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Perhaps @Blitzo might have something to add.
I have nothing to add and my opinion remains basically the same.
The problem is that the "original YJ-18" and this YJ-18C are very different from each other in role, flight profile, and footprint, so it is being viewed in some respects as a related missile.
Instead it's probably better to view it as near clean sheet
Looks like the YJ-9 got a range boost. the missile now features extended-range variants: the YJ-9ER AShM and the YJ-9ER1 anti-radiation missile.
antiterror13
Brigadier
hmmmmm, I thought the idea of YJ-18C is it can be "hidden" in 20 or 40 ft container (?)
Not sure whether YJ-18C is sub-sonic only, or the same as YJ-18 that have Mach 3 in the last ~40kms