Can the YJ-15 anti-ship missile be mounted on the J-15 carrier-based aircraft?

In recent days, social media has released photos showing that a netizen captured a J-15 carrier-based aircraft flying over with two YJ-15 anti-ship missiles mounted.

The YJ-15 anti-ship missile was showcased during the September 3rd military parade last year. "Jane's Defense Weekly" speculated that it is a supersonic anti-ship missile, using a ramjet or scramjet engine, with a speed exceeding 5 Maches and a range estimated to be between 1200 to 1800 kilometers.

J-15 seen carrying YJ-15 flying over

The photo of the J-15 carrying the YJ-15 anti-ship missile that was exposed this time has caused attention mainly because previous analyses generally tended to assume that there might be an air-launched version of the YJ-15 anti-ship missile that could be carried by airborne platforms for launch, but most people generally believed that the air-launched version of the YJ-15 would be carried by the H-6 series bomber rather than the J-15 carrier-based fighter.

The reason is that the weight of heavy anti-ship missiles imposes extremely high requirements on the load-bearing capacity of the aircraft's pylon. Taking the YJ-12 missile as an example, its launch weight is about 2.5 tons, and currently only the H-6 and JH-7 can carry it, because their design focuses more on ground and sea attacks, and their structural strength allows them to carry such heavy weapons. The J-16 aircraft, known as a "bomb truck," can theoretically also carry the YJ-12, but usually only uses the centerline pylon.

"Jane's Defense Weekly" speculated that the maximum range of the YJ-15 is 1800 kilometers

Like India's Su-30 aircraft, which was specially modified for the 2.5-ton BrahMos anti-ship missile, the aircraft's central pylon was reinforced, but the result was only barely usable, and the aircraft's maneuverability would be greatly reduced after carrying the missile.

For carrier-based aircraft, the situation is even more severe. Previously, the J-15 was limited by the ski-jump takeoff method, and its takeoff weight and pylon load were already limited, so the "heavy" YJ-12 made it long excluded from the J-15's weapon options, leading to the J-15's main air-launched anti-ship weapon being the "lighter" YJ-83K in the past.

The range of the YJ-83K is approximately 200 kilometers, roughly comparable to the U.S. Harpoon anti-ship missile. Although this missile has undergone multiple upgrades since its commissioning, its range is now clearly insufficient against modern carrier-based air defense systems.

India's Su-30 carries the BrahMos anti-ship missile using the central pylon

For example, the current U.S. destroyers are generally equipped with the Standard-6 anti-aircraft missile with a range of 370 kilometers, significantly expanding the fleet's defensive radius — meaning that if the J-15 carries the YJ-83K to attack, it must risk entering the U.S. fleet's air defense firepower zone to reach the effective firing distance.

Therefore, the emergence of the YJ-15 is expected to compensate for the range deficiency of the YJ-83K. The estimated launch weight of the YJ-15 is about 1.5 tons, and even with a dedicated heavy-duty pylon, the load per pylon will not exceed 2 tons, making it feasible for the J-15 carrier-based aircraft to carry it. Both the J-15T and J-16 have multiple heavy-duty pylons and can carry multiple YJ-15 missiles.

The photo exposed this time shows that a J-15 can carry two YJ-15 missiles, which means that multiple J-15s can form a formation and launch several or even dozens of YJ-15 missiles, creating a powerful saturation attack effect, posing a fatal threat to enemy destroyers.

YJ-15

From a strategic perspective, the integration of the J-15 carrying the YJ-15 marks a substantial breakthrough in China's carrier-based aviation anti-ship combat capabilities. For a long time, carrier-based aircraft, due to takeoff weight limitations, could only carry medium-range anti-ship missiles, making it difficult to counter modern fleets at a long distance.

But now, the lightweight and high-performance of the YJ-15 allow the J-15 to balance air combat and anti-sea warfare, expanding the operational range and deterrence scope of the aircraft carrier. The combination of ultra-long-range, supersonic air-launched anti-ship missiles with carrier-based aircraft makes large surface ships face real threats at a much greater distance, while also reducing the necessity for carrier-based aircraft to penetrate deep into enemy air defense zones.

Against the backdrop of the U.S. and Japan significantly enhancing their military capabilities and increasing regional maritime power competition, this configuration provides the Chinese Navy with more flexible tactical options, further changing the balance of power in the Western Pacific region.



Original: toutiao.com/article/7605542887962477106/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.