The YJ-83 uses microprocessors and a strap-down inertial reference unit (IRU); these are more compact than the equivalent electronics used in the YJ-8 and the export C-802, allowing the YJ-83 to have a 180-km range at Mach 0.9. The missile is powered by the Chinese CTJ-2 turbojet and is fitted with a 190-kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead. Terminal guidance is by an active radar.[6]
The air-launched YJ-83K has a range of 180 km (110 mi), a cruise speed of Mach 0.9, and a 165 kg (364 lb) high-explosive, semi-armour piercing warhead. The improved YJ-83KH uses a imaging-infrared seeker and has a range of 230 km;[4] reportedly it may receive course corrections by remote link.[7]
The C-802 precedes the closely related YJ-83.[10] It is powered by the French TRI 60-2 turbojet[6] and has a range of 65 nautical miles (120 km). The C-802 is considered a part of the YJ-83 family by the US military.[8] The C-802 was likely an export-only design. From the 1990s, it was erroneously reported that it was used by China as the "YJ-2". It is not an export version of the YJ-82; the two are separate developments.[11]
The C-802A[10] and C-802AK are the export surface- and air-launched variants.[6] The C-802A has a range of 97 nautical miles (180 km).[2][3][8]
Western reporting has erroneously attributed the "C-803" designation to the YJ-83. The "C-803" designation was not used in Chinese promotional information through 2012.[10]
Operational history
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On 14 July 2006, during the 2006 Lebanon War, Hezbollah fired two Chinese-built C-802 missiles with upgraded Iranian radar seekers. The first hit a Cambodian-flagged Egyptian freighter 60 km offshore. The other hit the Israeli Navy's Sa'ar 5-class corvetteINS Hanit, which was patrolling 8.5 nm offshore of Beirut. The missile hit the corvette's unstealthy crane near the rear helicopter pad; the explosion holed the pad, set fire to fuel storage, and killed four crewmembers. The fire was extinguished after four hours, and Hanit returned to Ashdod under its own power for three weeks of repairs. The corvette's automatic anti-missile systems were deactivated before the attack; Israel was unaware that Hezbollah had C-802s, and there were concerns over friendly fire with the Israeli Air Force.[12]
In October 2016, a cruise missile launched by Houthis in Yemen damaged HSV-2 Swift, an unarmed transport ship under the control of the United Arab Emirates (who is opposed to the Houthis in Yemen's civil war). Analysis of the damage caused by that missile led experts to believe it was a C-802, as the missile had an explosively formed penetrator (EFP) warhead.[13]
Variants
YJ-83
Initial surface-launched version with 120 km range.[6]
YJ-83A/YJ-83J
Variant with enhanced range; 180 km for surface-launch and 250 km for air-launch.[6]
Further development. KD-88 is an air-launched cruise missile derived from YJ-83 missile.[15]
CM-802AKG
Export version of KD-88. Based on the air-launched YJ-83 with a television (TV) or imaging-infrared (IIR) seeker and a redesigned airframe with more fuel.[16]
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