The ‘new wine jug’ of the Chinese Navy draws attention | Soldier

These updates are less talked about, but are an important element in the overall firepower of the Chinese navy. That is the observation of the observer H.I Sutton published in Forbes.

The first battleship was confirmed to be armed with the YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missile, nicknamed the “Carrier Killer”, an old ship.

Shenzhen, the only Class 051B destroyer of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), entered service 20 years ago. He was carrying the YJ-12 rocket at least a few years ago, but it was only last year that he was seen with all 16 missiles.

Previously, it carried common YJ-83 missiles, similar to the US Navy Harpoon subsonic anti-ship missile. USA The YJ-12 is a much newer missile than the YJ-83. The YJ-83 is capable of sailing at sea with impressive range and is still considered an effective missile, but it lacks the YJ-12’s strategic impact capabilities.

YJ-12 anti-ship missile

The YJ12’s speed and long range make it particularly difficult to resist. A series of four, or even 16 missiles, can pose a significant threat to even the most sophisticated air defense systems. And it has a large warhead, high destructive capacity even for large warships like aircraft carriers.

Initially, the YJ-12 was only deployed as an aerial launch missile, equipped for heavy bombers and aircraft. Later, in November 2018, a terrestrial version was revealed. Now the old destroyers are getting them. This seems to make sense in a scenario of peer conflict, when China faces an enemy on par or even marginally better.

Like Shenzhen, the YJ-12 missiles appear to be equipped with PLAN’s Sovremenny-class destroyers. The Sovremenny class is a Soviet-era design imported in the 1990s when China upgraded its defense capabilities to Russian technology.

Although the Sovremenny class is approximately the same size as Shenzhen, the upgraded ships will carry only six missiles. Another type of warship that can receive new missiles are the two Type-052 Lu Duong I. These ships currently carry 16 old YJ-83s.

Anh Minh