Chinese Defence Today - HY-2 (C-201) Land-to-Ship Missile

The HaiYing-2 (also known as C-201 in its export name, NATO codename: CSS-C-3 Seersucker) is the land-to-ship missile developed by 3rd Space Academy (now China HaiYing Electro-Mechanical Technology Academy, CHETA). The missile was based on the HY-1 anti-ship missile with extended range and improved accuracy. Only land-based variant has been developed due to its large size. As well as serving with the PLA Navy Coastal Defence Force, the missile was exported to the Middle East in significant numbers in the 1980s.

HY-2 LAND-TO-SHIP MISSILE

3rd Space Academy proposed to develop an improved version of the HY-1 anti-ship missile with extended-range in 1965. The missile development programme was approved by the PLA in 1968 and missile was officially designated HY-2. The missile features a lengthened fuel tank and a more fuel-efficient liquid rocket motor to achieve a max range of 95~100km. Other improvements include the new radar seeker with a wider search angle and extended searching range, redesigned autopilot, and enhanced missile body structure. 3rd Academy also developed the new launcher, optical director, and land-based target acquisition radar for the missile.

The test fire of the missile began in September 1967, and all four missiles hit the targets. During the design certification test in 1969, five missiles were launched and four hit the targets. In the third round of test two missiles were launched simultaneously from land-based launchers and both hit the targets successfully. The missile design was finalised in 1970 and the missile entered service thereafter to replace the HY-1 and SY-1 land-based anti-ship missiles.

HY-2A LAND-TO-SHIP MISSILE

In response to the HY-2’s poor resistance to enemy electronic jamming, 3rd Academy began to develop an infrared-guidance version of the HY-2 in the early 1970s. The original radar seeker was replaced by an air-cooled IR seeker. However, the missile development had been slow due to the difficulties in developing the IR seeker. The test fire of the missile took place in 1980 with five of the six missile launched hit the targets. The design was certified in 1982 and the missile was designated HY-2A. The basic variant HY-2A did not enter service.

In 1985 3rd Academy introduced the improved HY-2AII with a more sensitive IR seeker and a higher precision radio altimeter and new auto-pilot to lower the level flight altitude of the missile for improved penetration capability. The missile entered service with the PLA Navy Coastal Defence Force in the late 1980s.

HY-2B LAND-TO-SHIP MISSILE

3rd Academy began to develop a new variant known as HY-2B with a new mono-pulse terminal guidance radar seeker replacing the original conical scanning radar. Like the HY-2A, the HY-2B also features a high precision radio altimeter and new auto-pilot to achieve a much reduced cruising flight altitude, thus raising the missile’s penetration capability. The HY-2B is also known as “Lower-Altitude Missile” in the design team and the PLA Navy.

The HY-2B missile was first tested in 1982, with five of the six missile launched hit the targets. The missile entered service in 1984. An improved variant known as HY-2BII fitted with a newly designed radar seeker was introduced in 1989.

The HY-2 is identical to the HY-1 but with a further stretched 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 HY-2 is launched from land-based launcher and flies at an altitude of 1,000m during the initial stage of the flight. After the missile switched to the cruising mode, the flight altitude was reduced to 100~300m. During the final stage of the flight, the missile switched on its radar seeker and dives to an altitude of 8m until it hits the target. The single-shot hit probability is estimated to be 90%. Due to its oversized body, the HY-2 did not develop a ship-to-ship variant. The missile is obsolete and will be replaced by the YJ-8 series in the future.

Dimensions: Length: 7.48m; Diameter: 0.76m; Wingspan: 2.4m
Launch weight: 2,998kg
Warhead: 513kg shape charged high-explosive
Propulsion: One liquid rocket engine and one solid rocket booster
Max speed: Mach 0.8
Max range: 95~100km
Flight altitude: 100~300m (early models); <20m (later models)
Guidance: Inertial + active conical scanning terminal guidance radar (HY-2); or inertial + IR guidance (HY-2A); or inertial + monopulse active radar (HY-2B)
Single-shot hit probability: 90%