C-801 Explained

Is Missile:yes
YJ-8
Origin:China
Type:Anti-ship missiles
Used By:China
Manufacturer:China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation
Unit Cost:US$ 0.78  million[1]
Wars:Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)
Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
Propellant:solid rocket
Production Date:Late 1980s to present (export)
Service:early 1990s to present
Engine:rocket
Weight:815 kg
Length:5.81 meter
Speed:Mach 0.9
Vehicle Range:42 km
Altitude:5 or 7 m
Filling:165 kg
Guidance:Inertial navigation/active radar homing terminal guidance
Launch Platform:Aerial, naval and land-based

The YJ-8 (; NATO reporting name: CSS-N-4 Sardine) is a Chinese surface-launched subsonic anti-ship cruise missile. It is manufactured by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) Third Academy.[2]

The YJ-8 was developed into air-launched (YJ-81) and submarine-launched (YJ-82) variants.

Description

The YJ-8 is either based on, or is a heavily modified copy of, the MM38 Exocet; the two missiles share virtually identical operational profiles. The replication of the MM38's "revolutionary flight profile" in less than ten years and with an immature industrial base strongly suggests that China had access to proven technology.[3]

The YJ-8 was a "radical departure" from China's first anti-ship missiles derived from the P-15 Termit. The YJ-8 carried a smaller warhead, but had the same range and speed while being significantly smaller and lighter.

Development

The development of the YJ-8 was approved in late-1976 following a few years of encouraging work on solid-fuel rockets. According to a 1991 Aerospace China article, development of the missile's engine began in 1978, and flight testing was completed in 1985. The YJ-8 reach initial operating capability in the People's Liberation Army Navy in 1987, the same year the export version—the C-801—was announced.

CASIC received the first National Science and Technology Advancement Award for development of the YJ-8 in 1988.[4]

C-801

The C-801 is the export version of the YJ-8. The C-801 was not marketed after 2003.

Variants

Operators

Myanmar
Thailand

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997–1998. 9781557502681. 8 October 2015. Friedman. Norman. 1997. Naval Institute Press .
  2. Gromley et al.: page 101
  3. Web site: China's Eagle Strike-Eight Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles: Designation Confusion and the Family Members from YJ-8 to YJ-8A . Carlson . Christopher P. . 4 February 2013 . DefenseMediaNetwork . 12 August 2018.
  4. Web site: Anti-ship cruise missile wins award . Zhao . Lei . 10 January 2018 . DefenseMediaNetwork . 12 August 2018.
  5. Web site: China's Eagle Strike-Eight Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles, Part 2 . Carlson . Christopher P. . 6 February 2013 . DefenseMediaNetwork . 12 August 2018.
  6. Web site: SIPRI Trade Register. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
  7. Web site: Yemeni rebels unveil anti-ship missiles . Binnie . Jeremy . 9 November 2017 . Jane's 360 . 12 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180813005520/https://www.janes.com/article/75566/yemeni-rebels-unveil-anti-ship-missiles . 13 August 2018 . dead .