Chinese Defence Today - HY-1 Anti-Ship Missile

The HaiYing-1 (HY-1, NATO codename: CSS-N-1/CSS-C-2 Silkworm) anti-ship missile was developed from the SY-1 anti-ship missile with extended range and improved accuracy. The main contractors were Nanchang Aircraft Factory (now Hongdu Aircraft Industry Group) and 3rd Space Academy (now China HaiYing Electro-Mechanical Technology Academy, CHETA). The missile is available in both land-to-ship (HY-1/A) and ship-to-ship (HY-1J/JA) variant. The missile is carried by the PLA Navy’s first-generation Type 052 (Luda class) missile destroyers.

HY-1 LAND-TO-SHIP MISSILE

China obtained the Soviet P-15 (NATO codename: SS-N-2 Styx) liquid-fuel anti-ship missile technology in 1959. However, the licensed production of the missile was put on a halt when the relation between the two communist countries broke up and Moscow withdrew all of its advisers in China. The reverse-engineering of the missile was later carried out in two separate projects: the SY-1 ship-to-ship version developed by Nanchang Aircraft Factory and the HY-1 land-to-ship version developed jointly by Nanchang and 3rd Space Academy in Beijing.

While the SY-1 is a rather direct copy of the P-15 missile, the HY-1 features some improvements including a lengthened fuel tank for extended range and modified autopilot for better accuracy. The missile is 760mm longer than the SY-1 and its range has increased from 40km to 70km. The design team also developed the associated land-launch equipment including the four-wheel launcher and ground guidance station. The development began in 1965. The first test launch of the missile took place in December 1966 but failed due to missile radar seeker failure. The problem was not solved until 1970 and missile entered service with the PLAN in 1972.

HY-1 SHIP-TO-SHIP MISSILE

To overcome the short-range and poor accuracy of the SY-1 ship-to-ship missile, the PLAN demanded to develop a ship-to-ship variant of the HY-1 missile in 1967 for its first-generation indigenous missile destroyer Type 051 (NATO codename: Luda class). The development was undertaken by 3rd Space Academy and Nanchang Aircraft Factory. The development of the shipborne missile launcher and the associated fire-control radar systems were carried out by 7th Academy of 6th Ministry of Machinery Industry (now China National Shipbuilding Industry Corporation). The new missile was designated HY-1J.

The first test launch of the HY-1J missile took place in September 1973 from PLAN missile destroyer Jinan (Type 051/Luda class previous pennant number 223, current pennant number 105), with four missiles all hitting their targets. The missile design was finalised in 1975 and the JY-1J received its design certificate in 1983. The missile is equipped by the Type 051 destroyers, with each ship carrying six missiles in two three-cell launchers. The missile is guided by Type 354 sea-search radar and Type 352A fire-control radar. The Type 343 fire-control radar for the 130mm main gun could also be used as a backup radar for the anti-ship missile.

To further improve the performance of the HY-1J ship-to-ship missile, 3rd Space Academy introduced the HY-1JA in the 1980s. The original conical scanning terminal guidance radar was changed to an advanced monopulse radar with greater resistance to sea waves interference and enemy electronic jamming. The HY-1A also uses a high precision radio altimeter and new auto-pilot so that the level flight altitude of the missile can be lowered to below 20m, raising penetration capabilities

The first test launch of the HY-1A took place in 1985 with all four missiles hitting the targets. The missile entered service in 1986. The missile fire-control consists of Type 352A fire-control radar, Type 347S/347C target acquisition radar, Type 991 (ZKJ-4A) combat command system, and ZJ-7A optical director.

The HY-1 is almost identical to the SY-1/SS-N-2 in appearance apart from the slightly longer missile body. The missile features a round nose accommodating the radar seeker, a pair of mid-mounted delta wings on the middle section of missile body, and three tail control surfaces. The missile is powered by a liquid-fuel rocket motor, with a solid rocket booster attached under the missile fuselage. The missile requires fairly complex maintenance due to its use of liquid rocket. The missile’s large warhead can sink or severely damage a 3,000t-class destroyer. Generally speaking, the 40-year-old HY-1 is very obsolete and is being replaced by the more capable YJ-8 series anti-ship missile.

Dimensions: Length: 6.60m; Diameter: 0.76m; Wingspan: 2.4m
Launch weight: 2,300kg
Warhead: 513kg shape charged high-explosive
Propulsion: One liquid rocket engine and one solid rocket booster
Max speed: Mach 0.8
Max range: 70km
Flight altitude: 100~300m (early models); <20m (later models)
Guidance: Inertial + active conical scanning terminal guidance radar (early models); or inertial + monopulse active radar (later models)
Single-hit probability: 70%