Will new China’s YJ-18C missile be a logistics killer for US Navy?

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Liu ZhenJanuary 31, 2026 at 11:00 PM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

A Chinese military magazine suggests the PLA's new YJ-18C missile could target US Navy logistics. The YJ-18C, a subsonic land-attack cruise missile, shares similarities with the US AGM-158C LRASM. Its design prioritizes stealth, range, and ease of production over speed, making it a cost-effective option for arming a wider range of PLA assets. The magazine argues that while the YJ-18C may struggle against heavily defended warships, it could effectively target lightly defended transport and supply ships. This capability could exploit a critical weakness in US logistics during a high-intensity conflict.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Beijing 40% China State Shipbuilding Corporation 40% AGM-158C LRASM (long-range anti-ship missile) 60% People's Liberation Army 70% US Navy 75% United States ×380% China 90% YJ-18C ×495%

Keywords

yj-18c missile 100% anti-ship missile 80% us navy 70% logistics 70% pla 60% cruise missile 60% agm-158c lrasm 50% transport ship killer 50% military parade 40% attrition war 40%