Posted on 10/02/2017 5:53:20 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Pictures have emerged in China of a new submarine-launched variant of the YJ-18 supersonic anti-ship missile. The pictures show two slides from a presentation given by a retired People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) Rear Admiral at a Univertisty in August.
Launch capsule of the YJ-18 submarine launched variant
The first picture shows a launch capsule (the vehicle for the underwater part of the launch) which appears similar in shape and size to the Russian Kalibr capsule. The second image shows the missile breaking the surface during a test launch.
While some open sources refer to the submarine launch variant of YJ-18 as "YJ-18B" this has never been officially confirmed and the top of the slides actually reads "YJ-18 subsonic/supersonic anti-ship guided missile". Other variants reportedly include a ship launched land attack cruise missile, a ship launched anti-ship missile and a truck launched anti-ship missile.
As we mentionned in August 2015, Chinese media claim the YJ-18 system is designed for the destruction of various surface ships from an enemy’s landing squadrons, convoys, carrier strike groups, as well as single vessels and land-based radiocontrast targets in conditions of intensive fire and electronic countermeasures.
In its surface launched variant, the vertical launch the missile’s turbojet engine is reportedly capable of flying at a cruise speed of Mach 0.8 for about 180 kilometers after that point the warhead section separates and a solid rocket engine ignites allowing a top speed of Mach 2.5-3 for about 40 kilometers. Because of these flight characteristics, some Western analysts believe the YJ-18 is based on the Russian Kalibr/Klub 3M-54E.
According to Chinese sources, the missile can maneuver at 10G acceleration to avoid enemy interception by air-to-air or surface-air missiles.
More recent sources claim the submarine launched variant of YJ-18 has a range of 500 kilometers (270 nautical miles) with a terminal speed of Mach 2 and terminal altitude lower than Kalibr/Klub 3M-54.
The above video released in August 2015 shows a YJ-18A test launch from one of the two Type 909 test ship of the PLAN. These vessels can be fitted with various weapon and sensor systems and serve as test beds for the PLAN's future systems.
Another carrier killer weapon.
* this is how close a Chinese diesel sub has gotten before detection to a US carrier group.
I don’t know, there might be a min amount of time it takes to transition from launch through to supersonic.
Well 60 mph = 1 mile per minute
If it averaged 600 mph (have to be quick of course) that = 10 miles per minute. 10 miles per minute x 60 minutes = 600 mph.
So, 5 miles @ 600 mph (average speed of 600mph mind you) would take 30 seconds.
So terminal velocity would have to be > 600 mph since it won’t be that fast upon launch.
A much different system, one report claimed a Trident (possibly Trident II) is exceeding 13,000 mph about 2 minutes after launch. But that’s a significant amount of time for thrust to build.
The NORKs could just as easily get one or deploy a missile on a fishing boat or fishing factory ship. Bring it to within 12 miles of US coast and bada bing bada BOOM!
I guess the US Navy is totally prepared to fight the last war. As usual.
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