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China China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation
YJ-18
A Chinese submarine- and ship-launched anti-ship and land-attack cruise missile with a subsonic cruise phase followed by a supersonic terminal sprint to complicate interception. It is the standard vertical-launch anti-ship weapon of PLA Navy Type 052D/055 destroyers and Type 093 submarines.
In service since 2015
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
540
km range
2.5
Mach
300
kg warhead
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Chinese state channel
State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.
Channel: State export agency
Fielded & proven
Operator data not public
In service since 2015. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data — export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
- Max speed (Mach)
Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters.
- 2.5 Mach Stronger than 50% of missiles
- Range
Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.
- 540 km Stronger than 72% of missiles
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- Warhead
Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range.
- 300 kg Stronger than 61% of missiles
- Warhead type
Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable.
- Semi-armor-piercing blast
- Guidance
How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire.
- Inertial navigation, BeiDou satellite update, Active radar terminal homing
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
- Length
Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.
- 6.5 m
- Combat weight
Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.
- 1,400 kg
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
- Propulsion type
Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…
- Turbofan with rocket booster, terminal solid rocket sprint
Specifications compiled from public China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation YJ-18? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation YJ-18 has a maximum range of 540 km.
How much does the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation YJ-18 weigh? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation YJ-18 has a combat weight of 1,400 kg.
What is the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation YJ-18 used for? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation YJ-18 is a missile typically used for deep strike.
How much does the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation YJ-18 cost? +
China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation YJ-18: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
