China's Supersonic Ship Killer Is Making U.S. Navy's Job Harder
- YJ-18 can accelerate to three times speed of sound near target
- Missile will be harder to detect and hit with on-board guns
China Says U.S. Patrol in South China Sea Threatens Peace
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Increased interactions between the the Chinese and U.S. navy in the contested South China Sea risk becoming more complicated by the increasingly sophisticated missiles being carried by submarines.
A new report to the U.S. Congress assessing a Chinese submarine-launched missile known as the YJ-18 highlights the danger, noting the missile accelerates to supersonic speed just before hitting its target, making it harder for a crew to defend their ship.