Has the YJ-15 missile been deployed to the Chinese navy? A photo gives clues

The world’s fastest air-launched anti-ship cruise missile appears to be in service in the Chinese navy.

A photo of a carrier-based J-15T fighter equipped with two YJ-15 missiles has surfaced online in what seems to be a highly operational configuration.

The South China Morning Post cannot verify the authenticity of the widely circulated image but, if genuine, the photo would confirm that the missile was designed for the People’s Liberation Army’s naval and air force tactical aircraft, such as the J-15 and J-16.

The missile was first seen during last year’s Victory Day military parade but there was no mention at the time of its intended launch platform.

The weapon is a big leap in the PLA Navy’s anti-ship warfare abilities and, in some ways overtakes the missile technology of the United States, which still relies on subsonic anti-ship missiles.

Military analysts estimate the YJ-15 has a range of up to 500km (310 miles) and a penetration speed of Mach 4 to 5. This means it is faster than Russia’s Kh-31AD and India’s BrahMos-A, both of which fly at under Mach 4, making it the world’s quickest air-to-surface cruise missile.

The YJ-15 integrates advanced satellite, radar and infrared imaging guidance to boost precision, with strong anti-jamming and potentially terminal manoeuvring abilities to evade enemy close-in weapon systems.

South China Morning Post