According to a recent video that went viral from Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), the Chinese Armed Forces conducted several test launches of YJ-12B anti-ship missiles from the coast, showing impacts at sea on a target ship.
The images released by Clash Report so far depict the missile being launched from a mobile land-based platform, targeting a vessel. However, the location of the exercise, as well as the context or timing of the maneuvers, has not yet been disclosed, leaving speculation about the purpose and scope of these activities by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Regarding this version of the YJ-12 missile, it is noted that it was designed for coastal defense and to be operated from land-based batteries. Although the exact location has not been confirmed, various sources indicate that these units have been deployed along China’s mainland coast. This might suggest that the exercise is not only a drill but also a message to the region, particularly to Taiwan, indicating that the Asian giant has the capability to strike targets at long distances.
YJ-12 Features
Originally, the YJ-12 is an air-launched anti-ship cruise missile that China deploys on its medium-range strategic bombers, such as the H-6K. It has a range of 400 km and can reach speeds of up to Mach 3, capable of performing evasive maneuvers before hitting its target.
China began developing the YJ-12 in the 1990s and deployed it on its bombers starting in the 2000s. While the YJ-12 is air-launched, its export variant, the CM-302, can be launched from air, land, or naval platforms and used for land attack missions. Since December 2022, some modernized destroyers of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) have been equipped with the YJ-12A. The YJ-12B version is designed for coastal defense and is launched from land.
Its guidance system is inertial with GPS, achieving a precision of 5-7 meters CEP. This multi-stage missile uses a solid rocket booster and a liquid ramjet. It entered service in 2015 and remains operational, though the exact number of units has not been disclosed.
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