The YJ-62 ( Chinese : 鹰击-62 ; pinyin : yingji-62 ; lit. 'eagle strike 62') is a Chinese subsonic land-attack and anti-ship cruise missile . It is manufactured by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Third Academy.
10-586: In a September 2014 article published in Joint Forces Quarterly, the YJ-62 is credited with a 210 kg (460 lb) warhead, a speed of Mach 0.6 – Mach 0.8 (735–980 km/h; 457–609 mph), and a sea-skimming terminal attack height of 7–10 m (23–33 ft); The missile has an inertial guidance system using GPS and BeiDou data, and an active terminal sensor. A 2017 China Maritime Studies Institute (CSMI) report credits
20-425: A lower altitude increases the amount of time the missile is under the horizon from the perspective of the target ship, making it harder to detect due to radar clutter from the sea and similar effects. The real-life success of sea skimming depends on its exact implementation, the sophistication of the detection equipment, as well as the infrared and radar signature of the missile. Sea skimming can significantly reduce
30-420: Is almost always below 50 meters (150 ft ), and is often near 2 meters (6 ft). When under attack, a warship can detect sea-skimming missiles only after they appear over the horizon (about 28 to 46 km from the ship), allowing about 25 to 60 seconds of warning. By flying low to the sea, missiles decrease the range at which the target ships can detect them by a significant amount. Flying at
40-467: Is credited with a range of up to 400 km (250 mi; 220 nmi). The C-602 is the export version of the YJ-62, claimed to have a range of 280 km, a 300 kg (660 lb) semi-armour-piercing warhead, and GPS guidance. The reduced range is in accordance with Missile Technology Control Regime restrictions. The C-602 was revealed in September 2005, and displayed outside of China for
50-486: The China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in 2012. Sea-skimming Sea skimming is a technique many anti-ship missiles and some fighter or strike aircraft use to avoid radar , infrared detection , and to lower probability of being shot down during their approach to the target. Sea-skimming anti-ship missiles try to fly as low as is practically achievable, which
60-573: The active radar seeker with an acquisition range of 22 nautical miles (41 km). In 2015, the United States Navy 's Office of Naval Intelligence considered the YJ-62 to have longer range than the 150 nautical miles (170 mi; 280 km) of the C-602 export version, Figures of at least 400 km have been given. The 2017 CSMI report notes that such long range suggests that the missile receives targeting from other platforms. YJ-62A
70-622: The Persian Gulf during the Iran–Iraq War . The Argentinian pilots of the Super Étendard planes that attacked HMS Sheffield were also skimming the sea at very low level. They increased their altitude only for a very short period to get final target information for the attack with their Agave radars. During the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine , two Ukrainian-made R-360 Neptune sea-skimming cruise missiles were claimed to have struck and sank
80-469: The available response time that a ship's missile defenses have to work within, making these missiles significantly harder to defend against. Sea skimming can also increase the range of a missile, by relying on ground effects . The use of sea skimming increases the risk of water impact by the missile before reaching the target due to weather conditions, rogue waves , software bugs and other factors. Sea skimming also hinders target acquisition , as many of
90-470: The first time at the African Aerospace and Defence exhibition in 2006. The CM-602G is a land-attack version of the C-602. It is advertised as having a range of 290 km (180 mi), a 480 kg (1,060 lb) penetrating blast/fragmentation warhead, and an inertial guidance system using GPS data which may be augmented to provide man-in-the-loop control. The missile was revealed at
100-520: The principles that hinder the target's detection of the missile also hinder the missile's detection of the target. Sea skimming involves a significant computational load, increasing the required processing power and cost. Several systems are capable of defeating sea skimming weapons. French-made Exocet missiles were used by Argentina in the Falklands War (including the mortal wounding of HMS Sheffield ) and by Iraq against USS Stark in
#758241