MissileThreat.com

Country:	People's Republic of China
Alternate Name:	Eagle Strike, CSS-N-8 Saccade
Class:	S/Su/LLCM
Target:	Ship
Payload:	165 kg HE
Propulsion:	Turbojet
Range:	160.00 km
Guidance:	INS, datalink, active/passive radar
Status:	Operational
In Service:	1998-Present
Exported:	Pakistan

Details

The Ying Ji-83 (YJ-83) is a short-range, solid propellant, single warhead cruise missile developed and manufactured by the People’s Republic of China. Ground-launched, ship-launched, submarine-launched, and air-launched versions exist.

 

China started development of the YJ-1 (CSS-N-4 “Sardine”) in the mid-1970s, although it did not reveal the missile until 1984. The system was initially intended as a ship- and ground-launched defense against ships, although submarine- and air-launched versions were also developed. The YJ-2 (NATO: CSSC-8 or CSS-N-8 “Saccade”) is a longer range variant of the YJ-1. The YJ-2 began development in 1985, and was initially based on small turbojet technology stolen from U.S. BQM-34 Firebee drones recovered by the Chinese. This technology was later supplemented by auxiliary power units imported for use on civil aircraft programs.

 

The YJ-83 is an improved version of the YJ-2, on which development was started in 1992. It has been reported that the YJ-83 version has the capability to cruise at supersonic speed, and has an extended maximum range.

 

Ship-launched YJ-83 can be deployed aboard “Luda” (Type 3) and “Luhu” (Type 052) class destroyers, and “Jianghu 3 and 4” (Type 053 HT) and “Jianwei 1 and 2” (Type 053 H2G and 053) frigates. Submarine-launched versions can be deployed aboard “Song” class (Type 039) and “Han” class (Type 091) submarines, while the air-launched versions have been deployed aboard Su-27, Su-30MKK, Q-5, and JH-7 aircraft and the CHAIC Z-8 helicopter. The ground-launched versions are deployed on wheeled Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) vehicles, each of which is capable of carrying three missiles in its canisters. An encapsulated submarine-launched version also exists that can be launched through standard 533 mm torpedo tubes.

 

The YJ-83 is similar in appearance to the YJ-2. The missile has four delta-shaped wings at mid-body and four triangular control fins at the rear. The ground- and ship-launched versions are 6.39 m long and have a launch weight of 715 kg including the 160 kg tandem booster rocket. The air-launched version, which does not have a booster rocket, is 5.3 m long and has a launch weight of 555 kg.

 

Similar to the YJ-2, the YJ-83 has a turbojet engine although it can cruise at supersonic speeds between Mach 1.3 and 1.5. The ground-and ship-launched versions have a maximum range of 160km, and the air-launched version has a maximum range of 250 km. The longer ranges are achieved by inserting a subsonic high level cruise phase. The YJ-83 can cruise at between 10 and 30 m, and drops down to 5 m during the terminal phase. The missile is capable of downloading target coordinates during flight, and can reallocate targets during the terminal phase.

 

The first YJ-83 is believed to have entered service in 1998, and was first displayed in Jeijing in October 1999. In July and November 2002, YJ-83 missiles were launched from JH-7 aircraft and demonstrated a maximum range of 250 km. China is also believed to have offered the YJ-83 for export under the designation C-803. An unconfirmed report in August 2002 suggested that C-803 missiles were being deployed on Pakistan’s “Khalid” class (Agosta 90B) submarines.(1)

 

 

 

 

Footnotes

 

1. Duncan Lennox, ed., Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 45 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2006) pp. 30-32; “Taiwan plays down threat posed by China’s C-803,” Jane’s Missiles and Rockets, 1 January 2003; Global Security.Org, “C-802 / YJ-2 / Ying Ji-802 / CSS-C-8 / SACCADE C-8xx / YJ-22 / YJ-82,” available at http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/c-802.htm, accessed on July 1, 2006.