C-101
Encyclopedia
The C-101 is a supersonic anti-ship missile that can be launched from air, ship, and shore. Alternatively, the air launched version is also called YJ-1 by Chinese, with YJ short for Ying Ji (鹰击), meaning Eagle Strike. The missile is also known designated by Chinese as Fei Long - 2 for export (with Fei Long meaning Flying Dragon – 2, or FL-2 for short), and there are two side-mounted ramjet engines at the rear of the airframe. The ship-launched version C-101 and the air-launched version YJ-1 both have integrated fire control system to meet the tight space requirement on board ships and aircraft, where the coastal defense version FL-2 has a distributed fire control system, where power, radar, and operator consoles are located separately to reduce the possible damage from enemy attacks. This is a practice commonly adopted by other Chinese missiles such as Silkworm missile
s. The NATO reporting name
for this missile is CSSC-5 Saple.The development of C-101 missile started in the late 1970s, and production began in the mid-1990s, as part of the replacement of the obsolete HY-2/CSS-N-2 missiles. The Chinese Navy tested the C-101 anti-ship missile on the Hoku-class missile boat
, and Huang-class missile boat
are being fitted with four C-101 launch tubes, while smaller classes carry two launch tubes. The air launched version has been reportedly carried on the H-5
and Xi’an H-6
bombers and the Harbin SH-5
amphibian and eventually expanded to most of the aircraft in the Chinese inventory. The armed with a 300 kg semi-armor-piercing warhead with a delayed impact fuse. Cruising at an altitude below 50 meters, the missile dives about 3 kilometers away from the target to 5 meters above the sea level and then dive to attack, impacting just above the waterline.
The C-101 anti-ship missile has a lower speed and higher cruise altitude than larger and more potent supersonic anti-ship missiles such as the SS-N-22
, and thus is relatively prone to interception in comparison to the SS-N-22, but this drawback is partially made up by its smaller radar cross section and lower infrared signature. The same advantages are retained when compared to the subsonic Silkworm missile
s, which also have higher cruise altitude and lower speed in comparison to C-101. As a result, the C-101 saw wider service in Chinese armed forces than its larger cousin C-301
, mainly as a stopgap measure for the air force until the newer supersonic missile such as the Russian Kh-31 becomes widely available, and as an upgrade for older missile boats such as the Heku class
to replace the original Silkworm missile
s onboard. Although Chinese claim that other type of seekers such as infrared imaging and television seekers have been successfully developed, the status is rather uncertain due to the availability of newer anti-ship missiles. According to Chinese military enthusiasts, the upgraded C-101 with the latest improvements is reportedly designated as YJ-16.
Silkworm missile
The Shang Yo or SY-series , and the Hai Ying or HY-series were early Chinese anti-ship missiles. They were derived from the Soviet P-15 Termit missile.The HY-1 and HY-2 received the NATO reporting name Silkworm...
s. The NATO reporting name
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
for this missile is CSSC-5 Saple.The development of C-101 missile started in the late 1970s, and production began in the mid-1990s, as part of the replacement of the obsolete HY-2/CSS-N-2 missiles. The Chinese Navy tested the C-101 anti-ship missile on the Hoku-class missile boat
Missile boat
A Missile Boat is a small craft armed with anti-ship missiles. Being a small craft, missile boats are popular with nations interested in forming an inexpensive navy...
, and Huang-class missile boat
Missile boat
A Missile Boat is a small craft armed with anti-ship missiles. Being a small craft, missile boats are popular with nations interested in forming an inexpensive navy...
are being fitted with four C-101 launch tubes, while smaller classes carry two launch tubes. The air launched version has been reportedly carried on the H-5
Ilyushin Il-28
The Ilyushin Il-28 is a jet bomber aircraft of the immediate postwar period that was originally manufactured for the Soviet Air Force. It was the USSR's first such aircraft to enter large-scale production. It was also licence-built in China as the Harbin H-5. Total production in the USSR was 6,316...
and Xi’an H-6
Tupolev Tu-16
The Tupolev Tu-16 was a twin-engine jet bomber used by the Soviet Union. It has flown for more than 50 years, and the Chinese license-built Xian H-6 remains in service with the Chinese air force.-Development:...
bombers and the Harbin SH-5
Harbin SH-5
-See also:-References:***...
amphibian and eventually expanded to most of the aircraft in the Chinese inventory. The armed with a 300 kg semi-armor-piercing warhead with a delayed impact fuse. Cruising at an altitude below 50 meters, the missile dives about 3 kilometers away from the target to 5 meters above the sea level and then dive to attack, impacting just above the waterline.
The C-101 anti-ship missile has a lower speed and higher cruise altitude than larger and more potent supersonic anti-ship missiles such as the SS-N-22
SS-N-22
SS-N-22 Sunburn is the NATO reporting name for two unrelated Soviet anti-ship missiles. Although the missiles were very different, distinguishing between them is difficult because their ship-mounted launching containers were identical. Confusion was exacerbated by the Soviet practice of mixing...
, and thus is relatively prone to interception in comparison to the SS-N-22, but this drawback is partially made up by its smaller radar cross section and lower infrared signature. The same advantages are retained when compared to the subsonic Silkworm missile
Silkworm missile
The Shang Yo or SY-series , and the Hai Ying or HY-series were early Chinese anti-ship missiles. They were derived from the Soviet P-15 Termit missile.The HY-1 and HY-2 received the NATO reporting name Silkworm...
s, which also have higher cruise altitude and lower speed in comparison to C-101. As a result, the C-101 saw wider service in Chinese armed forces than its larger cousin C-301
C-301
The C-301 is a large supersonic coastal defense anti-ship missile with four solid rocket boosters and two ramjet sustainer engines located aft of the missile body...
, mainly as a stopgap measure for the air force until the newer supersonic missile such as the Russian Kh-31 becomes widely available, and as an upgrade for older missile boats such as the Heku class
Type 024 class missile boat
The Type 024 class missile boat is a Chinese built small missile boat armed with two anti-ship missiles and there were two version developed, though most of them are placed in reserve, dozens remain in the active service...
to replace the original Silkworm missile
Silkworm missile
The Shang Yo or SY-series , and the Hai Ying or HY-series were early Chinese anti-ship missiles. They were derived from the Soviet P-15 Termit missile.The HY-1 and HY-2 received the NATO reporting name Silkworm...
s onboard. Although Chinese claim that other type of seekers such as infrared imaging and television seekers have been successfully developed, the status is rather uncertain due to the availability of newer anti-ship missiles. According to Chinese military enthusiasts, the upgraded C-101 with the latest improvements is reportedly designated as YJ-16.
Specifications
- Length: 5.8 meter
- Wingspan: 1.2 meter
- Weight: 1,850 kg
- Warhead: 300 kg
- Range: 45 km
- Speed: > Mach 1.7 cruise, > Mach 2 in attack
- Cruise altitude: < 50 meter in flight, 5 meter at final stage
- Propulsion: two ramjetRamjetA ramjet, sometimes referred to as a stovepipe jet, or an athodyd, is a form of airbreathing jet engine using the engine's forward motion to compress incoming air, without a rotary compressor. Ramjets cannot produce thrust at zero airspeed and thus cannot move an aircraft from a standstill...
engines with rocket boosters - Guidance: active radar homing seeker (other types of seekers have been developed)
- Original developer: CHEMTA (China Sea Eagle Electromechanical Technology Academy, 中国海鹰机电技术研究院, formerly the 3rd Design Academy of the Aerospace Ministry) and China Precision Machinery Import-Export Co.