The range of China's YJ-9ER anti-ship missile is said to have doubled! Taiwan’s Tuojiang-class patrol ship named
Quick Look
- China's new YJ-9ER anti-ship missile has a range that is doubled compared to the prototype, reaching 30 kilometers when launched from a helicopter and 60 kilometers when launched from a fixed-wing aircraft.
- The bomb has been unveiled at the Egyptian Air Show, and Taiwan's Tuojiang-class patrol ships have been listed as potential targets.
- However, the actual testing, mass production progress and deployment schedule have not been publicly confirmed.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The YJ-9 series is China's light air-launched anti-ship missile. The prototype is 2.58 meters long, weighs about 105 kilograms, is equipped with a warhead of about 30 kilograms, and flies at a speed of about Mach 0.7 to 0.85. The Chinese naval aviation force has demonstrated Z-9D carrier-based helicopters equipped with YJ-9 missiles in the past and conducted exercises targeting moving water targets.
A Z-9D carrier-based helicopter launches a YJ-9 anti-ship missile. (Picture taken from China Military Network)
[Compiled by Chen Chengliang/Comprehensive Report] China's new extended-range air-launched anti-ship missile "YJ-9ER" (YJ-9ER) is reported to have twice the range of the prototype. The professional military media "Army Recognition" reported on the 17th that this light anti-ship missile is mainly used to attack small surface vessels such as patrol boats and missile speedboats, and lists Taiwan's Tuojiang-class patrol ships as potential targets.
The YJ-9ER anti-ship missile was unveiled for the first time at the Egyptian Air Show. (Picture taken from Chinese website)
The YJ-9 series is China's light air-launched anti-ship missile. The prototype is 2.58 meters long, weighs about 105 kilograms, is equipped with a warhead of about 30 kilograms, and flies at a speed of about Mach 0.7 to 0.85. "Army Recognition" pointed out that this type of light weapons can be used by military aircraft to perform near-shore anti-ship missions, which is different from heavy anti-ship missiles used to attack large surface ships.
Please read on...
According to reports from "Army Recognition" and Chinese Sohu platform "Cheese is Coming" on September 19, when the YJ-9ER is launched from a helicopter, the range is said to be increased from the prototype's 15 kilometers to 30 kilometers; when launched from a fixed-wing aircraft, the range is increased from 30 kilometers to 60 kilometers. The Chinese naval aviation force has demonstrated Z-9D carrier-based helicopters equipped with YJ-9 missiles in the past and conducted exercises targeting moving water targets.
"Army Recognition" lists Taiwan's Tuojiang-class patrol ships as possible targets of YJ-9ER. The Tuojiang-class patrol ship has a displacement of about 685 tons and a maximum speed of more than 40 knots. It adopts a low radar cross-section design and is equipped with Xiongfeng II and Xiongfeng III anti-ship missiles, as well as Haijian II anti-ship missiles, 76 mm naval guns and a Phalanx close-in weapon system.
YJ-9ER was publicly displayed at the 2026 Egypt International Air Show. As for the actual test performance, mass production progress, deployment schedule, and integrated Chinese military aircraft models of this missile, there is currently no public information to confirm.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
China will disclose the testing progress or deployment plan of YJ-9ER in the next few months
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- What is the actual test performance of YJ-9ER?
- What is the mass production progress and deployment schedule?
- What types of Chinese military aircraft have been integrated?
