The C-602, also known as YJ-62, is a Chinese subsonic anti-ship missile that can also be used as a land attack cruise missile.
C-602 made its public debut in China at the end of 2006 during the 6th Zhuhai Airshow, though the name begun first appear in 2005. The missile is reportedly deployed onboard Type 052C destroyer. The subsonic missile has a designation of YJ-62, with YJ short for Ying Ji (Yingji, 鹰击), meaning Eagle Strike. In addition to anti-shipping capability, the missile is also capable of land attack. The missile has a maximum range in excess of 400 kilometres (250 mi), though the exact number is uncertain, but for the export version, the maximum range is reduced to 280 kilometres (170 mi) to meet the international arms trade regulation which limits the maximum range below 300 kilometres (190 mi). The maximum speed of the missile is greater than Mach 0.9 but this speed is greatly reduced over the rugged terrain when used for land-attack missions. The missile can be launched in Sea State 6 environment. The cruising altitude over the ground can be as low as 30 metres (98 ft) while the cruising altitude over the sea can be as low as 10 metres (33 ft). During the terminal attack phase against ships, the altitude is further decreased to 7 metres (23 ft) above sea level. The missile is propelled by a turbojet engine with a solid fuel rocket booster weighing around 200 kilograms (440 lb).
The missile is equipped with a “mono-pulse frequency agile (active) radar seeker” with a maximum detection range in excess of 40 kilometres (25 mi) and a maximum lock-on range of 30 kilometres (19 mi). The sector of the scan of the seeker is ± 40 degrees. For the midcourse flight, inertial guidance is used with the help of strap-down inertial measurement unit (IMU) and GPS for the export version, while domestic version also incorporated GLONASS and domestic navigational systems. A variety of warhead could be adopted, and the fuse for the anti-ship version is “delayed electro-mechanical contact fuse”. The mid-body wings which deploy following launch. The engine inlet is mounted slightly forward of the cruciform tail fins. The missile has incorporated the capability similar to the Boeing Harpoon, so that it could abandon the original target and switch to more threatening ones should such threat arise, but it is not clear whether this capability in built-in like the Boeing Harpoon or achieved via data link, or a combination of both. A new version of the missile with turbofan engine has already being completed and the submarine and air-launched version (tested on a version of Xian H-6) are also reported to be under development. However, such reports have yet to be confirmed because many domestic Chinese sources have disputed the missile in the photo by claiming it might have been a cruise missile instead. The missile was authorized for export by the Chinese government in 2005, and in order to comply with international regulations on arms export regarding missiles, the maximum range is reduced to 280 kilometres (170 mi).
Specification:
- Length: 6.1 metres (20 ft)
- Diameter: 0.54 metres (1 ft 9 in)
- Weight: 1.24 tonnes (1.22 long tons; 1.37 short tons) (including the 110 kilograms (240 lb) booster)
- Warhead: 300 kilograms (660 lb)
- Minimum speed: Mach 0.6
- Maximum speed: Mach 0.9+
- Cruising altitude over sea: 7–10 metres (23–33 ft)
- Cruising altitude over ground: 30 metres (98 ft)
- Maximum range: > 400 kilometres (250 mi), 280 kilometres (170 mi) for export version
- Minimum range: 40 to 60 kilometres (25 to 37 mi), depending on the type and size of the target
- Engine: turbojet with solid rocket booster
- Guidance: inertial + active radar
- Maximum target speed: 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
- Developer: China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation