China’s Cutting-Edge Missile System Snapped on Camera

The new missile system is a mobile launcher with anti-ship missiles such as the YingJi-18 positioned on the complex’s multipurpose 8x8 chassis.

An accidental witness managed to photograph China's new coastal missile system with a YJ-18 anti-ship missile, Chinese media reported.

中国又一神秘导弹曝光：鹰击18惊艳亮相震撼全球 编者按：近日，有多名网友在高速路上拍摄到一款正在运输途中的神秘中国新型导弹。从外 http://t.co/ke8h7ttdnF pic.twitter.com/WriWuUMovE

— 中文焦点新闻 (@cnfocus) November 10, 2014

Three transport-launch containers with anti-ship missiles are located on the launcher. The new missile complex is intended to destroy surface ships of various classes and types: from landing convoys, ship and aircraft carriers, battle groups and single ships.

China's new coastal missile system with a YJ-18 anti-ship missile

© Photo : http://club.mil.news.sina.com.cn

It can also serve land-based radio-purposes under intense fire and electronic countermeasures.

After vertical launch the missile’s turbojet engine can reach a cruising speed of Mach 0.8 for about 180 km, after which the re-entry vehicle detaches and can reach speeds of about Mach 2.5-3, flying up to 40 km.

The new Chinese missile in its appearance and purpose is similar to Russia’s ‘3M-54E’ missile, which may have served as a template for the Chinese missile’s development.

Russia's 3M-54E1 is a prototype of Chinese missile

© Wikipedia / Allocer