China Unveils Naval Defense System for Attacking US Aircraft Carriers

First Public Display of 'YJ-18E' Subsonic and Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile at Zhuhai Airshow
Showcasing Advanced Weapons Including Stealth Unmanned Attack Drones to Demonstrate Military Strength

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] China unveiled maritime defense systems including the 'YJ-18E missile' at the 13th Zhuhai Airshow (China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition). China utilized the Zhuhai Airshow as a stage to showcase cutting-edge weapons to demonstrate that its military power is not inferior to that of the United States.

According to state-run Xinhua News Agency and Global Times on the 29th, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) unveiled the domestically developed YJ-18E missile for the first time at the Zhuhai Airshow, which opened the previous day.

This missile is known to be capable of flying in two speed modes: subsonic (below the speed of sound) and supersonic (five times the speed of sound). After long-range flight like a cruise missile, it can fly at supersonic speed near the target, rendering enemy defense systems ineffective. It is estimated that the first-stage rocket is designed for long-range cruise flight, and the second-stage rocket for supersonic flight.

The existing YJ-18 missile is a supersonic anti-ship missile. The range of China's anti-ship missiles is known to be between 300 and 400 km, but the YJ-18E missile appears to have a longer range than the existing missiles.

Chinese media reported that the YJ-18E can fly at very low altitudes, allowing it to evade enemy radar and other defense systems. This suggests that it is an anti-ship missile developed with U.S. aircraft carriers in mind. It was also added that it is designed to be launched not only from sea (warships) but also from land (mobile vehicles, etc.), enabling versatile use including mobility.

Chinese media further explained that the YJ-18E missile, along with the existing YJ-12E supersonic anti-ship missile, CM-802B anti-ship guided missile, CM-708UNB submarine-launched anti-ship missile, and CM-103 radar attack missile, forms one pillar of China’s integrated maritime defense system.

Alongside maritime defense systems, China also showcased stealth drones and other advanced air force capabilities.

The air force asset that attracted the most attention from the Chinese public at this airshow was the J-20 stealth fighter jet. This fighter is equipped with an engine developed domestically by China.

Chinese military expert Song Zhongping explained, "The fact that the J-20 stealth fighter flew at the airshow means that the development of the domestic engine is complete," adding, "This means that the J-20 stealth fighter will be mass-produced and deployed in actual combat in the future."

The upgraded version of the multipurpose fighter 'J-16' equipped with an electronic warfare pod, called the 'J-16D,' was also unveiled as previously announced by Chinese media. The J-16D model is equipped with electronic equipment capable of jamming radar and other systems. This fighter is expected to be used as a carrier-based aircraft.

The high-altitude unmanned reconnaissance aircraft 'Caihong-6 (H-6)' also drew attention. It can conduct reconnaissance flights at an altitude of 12 km at a speed of 800 km/h. This unmanned aircraft is also known to be capable of carrying air-to-ground missiles.

The stealth attack drone prototype 'Gongji-11 (GJ-11)' was also exhibited. This unmanned attack aircraft appeared at the 70th anniversary military parade of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 2019. Chinese media praised the GJ-11 as the most advanced stealth attack unmanned aircraft.

Drones capable of flying over 10,000 km, the 'Wuzhen-7 (WZ-7)' and the tailless 'Wuzhen-8 (WZ-8),' were also unveiled. Chinese media explained that the WZ-7 drone is designed to cross the continent. They introduced the WZ-8 drone as capable of performing high-altitude reconnaissance missions, with its main task being the collection of high-resolution images. Although Chinese media described the WZ-8 drone as an aerospace vehicle, they did not disclose its operational flight altitude.