Bangladesh Navy test-fires the C-802 missile

[Khairul Alam]

Bangladesh Navy successfully test fires long range missile
Unb, Ctg

Bangladesh Navy yesterday successfully test fired C-802 missile in the Bay of Bengal, following an upgrade to the missile system with the assistance of a Chinese technical team, officials said.

“BNS Osman could attain this glorious level of achievement after two months of laborious attendance by the Chinese technical team and ship staff,” said an ISPR release.

This is the first instance BNS Osman, commissioned on May 4, 1989 as the only missile frigate, fired long-range ship-to-ship C-802 missile, which is capable of destroying any target within 120 kilometers.

Chief of the Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam expressed his heartiest thanks to the government of China as well as all Chinese delegation members on behalf of the Bangladesh government.

Principal Staff Officer Lt Gen Masududdin Chowdhury said the upgradation programme is “part of the government policy”.

Commodore Commanding of BN Flotilla Commodore HR Bhuiyan, Commodore Superintendent Dockyard Commodore Jasim Uddin Bhuiyan, and Chinese Defense Attache senior Colonel Ju Dewu, among others, were present.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=36354

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9353/c8022sm.jpg

 

[Khairul Alam]

I dont know if referring to the C-802 as a "long-range" missile would be correct. Any viewpoints about that??

Here's a description of the C-802 from the FAS:

C-802 / YJ-2 / Ying Ji-802
CSS-C-8 / SACCADE
C-8xx / YJ-22
The Ying-Ji-802 land attack and anti-ship cruise missile [Western designation SACCADE], is an improved version of the C-801 which employs a small turbojet engine in place of the original solid rocket engine. The weight of the subsonic (0.9 Mach) Yingji-802 is reduced from 815 kilograms to 715 kilograms, but its range is increased from 42 kilometers to 120 kilometers. The 165 kg. (363 lb.) warhead is just as powerful as the earlier version. Since the missile has a small radar reflectivity and is only about five to seven meters above the sea surface when it attacks the target, and since its guidance equipment has strong anti-jamming capability, target ships have a very low success rate in intercepting the missile. The hit probability of the Yingji-802 is estimated to be as high as 98 percent. The Yingji-802 can be launched from airplanes, ships, submarines and land-based vehicles, and is considered along with the US "Harpoon" as among the best anti-ship missiles of the present-day world.

Following the 1991 Gulf War Iran imported the C-802 antiship cruise missile from China. China suspended exports in 1996 in response to comlaints by the the United States. In December 1996 Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, John Shalikashivili, warned Chinese Defense Minister General Chi Haotian that arms exports would increase destabilizing factors in the region. No international agreement bans transfers of anti-ship missiles, and the C-802 is not covered by the MTCR, which controls exports of ballistic and cruise missiles that can deliver 500 kg. warheads to 300 km. Iran expected to purchase 150 C-802 missiles from China but only received a half of them because of the arms suspension. By mid-1997 Iran reportedly possessed some 60 of the missiles deployed in coastal batteries on Qeshm Island, a strategic point on the eastern side of the Arabian peninsula. In 1997, General J.H. Binford Peay, Central Command commander, said that China transferred 20 patrol boats with 15 equipped with C-802 missiles (Washington Times, January 29, 1997). [Some reports claim that China may have transferred hundreds of C-802s, although these claims are not widely attested].

In early 2000 it was reported that North Korea and Iran were jointly developing an advanced version of the C-802 cruise missile. These missiles initially acquired by Iran were not equipped with advanced systems, and the missiles acquired by Iran were rather outdated. Iran turned to North Korea for missile system technology, and the two countries are jointly developing an upgraded version with improved accuracy. ["N. Korea, Iran Jointly Develop Missile: Report" Korea Times February 17, 2000]

The precise application of the YJ-8 designation remains somewhat obscure, as it is used with reference to both C-801 and C-802 missiles, and may be the overall designator for the weapon system that fires both types of missiles.

The YJ-22 is a land-attack cruise missile development of the anti-ship C-802 with a 400km range, and possible GPS/TM guidance currently said to be under development with an IOC expected after 2005.

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/row/c-802.htm

 

[tatra]

BNS Osman - from which the missile was fired - is a modified Jianghu class frigate that was bought in 1989 from China. It was the Bangladeshi navy's first missile capable frigate.

 

[tphuang]

oh man, these articles are rubbish, here is an original I got.

Text of report headlined "Navy to test-fire new missile next week"
published by Bangladeshi newspaper Prothom Alo on 28 April

Bangladesh Navy is to test-fire the C-802 missile imported from China
next week. The missile will be launched from the naval frigate "BNS
Osman" on 4 May to a target 140 nautical miles in the sea. For this
the navy has taken all cautionary measures and instructed all to
follow its instructions. A meeting with all other relevant government
agencies and departments was held on Thursday [24 April].

According to sources, this is the first such test-fire of missiles in
Bangladesh. Instructions have been given to relevant authorities to
keep away ships coming from Singapore, Colombo (Sri Lanka) and
Malaysia from the route where the test-fire will take place. And it
has asked for anchoring arrangements of those ships in the outer
anchorage area.

According to naval sources, among the six frigates of Bangladesh Navy,
BNS Osman and BNS Khalid Bin Walid (formerly known as BNS Bangabandhu)
have facilities to launch missiles. Till now BNS Osman, collected from
China in 1989, was equipped with SY-1 Alpha type missile. This missile
of 1988 model can hit targets at a distance of 35 nautical miles.

C-802 and FM-90 types of missiles have been imported from China by
Bangladesh Navy as part of its modernization. These missiles can hit
targets at a distance of 120 nautical miles. Missile launching
technology of BNS Osman has been upgraded. FM-90 missiles have been
imported for BNS Khalid Bin Walid.

The C-802 and FM-90N were bought in 2006. C-802 according to this article can go 120 NM to 140 NM. A little more than my previous knowledge but not outlandish.

 

[Khairul Alam]

oh man, these articles are rubbish, here is an original I got.

The C-802 and FM-90N were bought in 2006. C-802 according to this article can go 120 NM to 140 NM. A little more than my previous knowledge but not outlandish.

Man!! Does it say 120 to 140 NM??? That would be more than 200km!! Oh my my!!! The articles I posted specify a range of 120 km. Now which one should we believe in?? However, on the brighter side, a range of 120NM would add serious punch to Bangladesh Navy

 

[tatra]

Man!! Does it say 120 to 140 NM??? That would be more than 200km!! Oh my my!!! The articles I posted specify a range of 120 km. Now which one should we believe in?? However, on the brighter side, a range of 120NM would add serious punch to Bangladesh Navy

Only if is also acquire the mean to target them properly

 

[Khairul Alam]

Only if is also acquire the mean to target them properly

But the question still remains...what is the actual range of the C-802? Is it 120km or 120NM, as Tphuang put it???

 

[tphuang]

Man!! Does it say 120 to 140 NM??? That would be more than 200km!! Oh my my!!! The articles I posted specify a range of 120 km. Now which one should we believe in?? However, on the brighter side, a range of 120NM would add serious punch to Bangladesh Navy

yeah, I don't think Bangladesh will be able to use that range in most scenarios. I think it's nm, because Iran tested out a version that had a range of 200 km. 120 nm = 220 km is certainly possible.

 

[Khairul Alam]

yeah, I don't think Bangladesh will be able to use that range in most scenarios.

could you clarify?? why wouldnt BD be able to use that range??

 

[tatra]

But the question still remains...what is the actual range of the C-802? Is it 120km or 120NM, as Tphuang put it???

That depends...

YJ-8 (C-801) Basic variant shore/ship-to-ship missile. (Rocket powered) Range: 42km
YJ-82 Submarine-launched version YJ-8. (rocket powered) Range: 40km
YJ-81 Air-launched variant YJ-8 (rocket powered) range: 50km
YJ-8A (C-801A) Improved variant of the YJ-8. (rocket powered) Range: 80km
C-802 Land-based anti-ship missile derived from YJ-8/C-801 (turbo-jet powered). Range 120km
C-802A Improved variant of C-802. Range 180km
YJ-83 Second-generation ship-to-ship variant of the YJ-8 family (Turbojet-powered) range: 150~180km
KD-88 airlaunched land-attack variant of the YJ-81 air-to-ship missile (turbojet powered) Range: 180-200km
http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/weapon/default.asp
http://www.deagel.com/Anti-Ship-Missiles/YJ-83_a001830001.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_anti-ship_missiles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-802
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/missile.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/missile-intro.htm
http://www.nti.org/db/china/wcmdat_table.htm

120nm = 222km

My best guesstimate is that it is 120km for C802. But with 180km for C802A and a little more for the air-launched KD-88 you can see were the confusion might come from.

 

[crobato]

Air launched YJ-83 (C-803) might have a linear range of 255km.

---
By Bill Gertz,
Washington Times,
20 November 2002
Chinese missile has twice the range U.S. anticipated

China recently test-fired a new cruise missile with twice the range U.S. intelligence agencies initially estimated, intelligence officials say.

The test comes as Chinese Communist officials last week appointed a top general in charge of China`s missile buildup to a new post within the leadership that runs the military.

China fired a YJ-83 anti-ship cruise missile from a JH-7 fighter-bomber earlier this month over Bohai Bay, off northern China.

The test results surprised U.S. intelligence officials. Until recently, the estimated range of the YJ-83 had been assessed to be about 75 miles. The new missile test showed that its range is about 155 miles.
---

So sea launched, 200km should be about just right. In Sino-Russian exercises in 2005, a YJ-83 hit a small target over 200km in a demonstration in front of Russian officials.

 

[tphuang]

That depends...

YJ-8 (C-801) Basic variant shore/ship-to-ship missile. (Rocket powered) Range: 42km
YJ-82 Submarine-launched version YJ-8. (rocket powered) Range: 40km
YJ-81 Air-launched variant YJ-8 (rocket powered) range: 50km
YJ-8A (C-801A) Improved variant of the YJ-8. (rocket powered) Range: 80km
C-802 Land-based anti-ship missile derived from YJ-8/C-801 (turbo-jet powered). Range 120km
C-802A Improved variant of C-802. Range 180km
YJ-83 Second-generation ship-to-ship variant of the YJ-8 family (Turbojet-powered) range: 150~180km
KD-88 airlaunched land-attack variant of the YJ-81 air-to-ship missile (turbojet powered) Range: 180-200km
http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/weapon/default.asp
http://www.deagel.com/Anti-Ship-Missiles/YJ-83_a001830001.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_anti-ship_missiles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-802
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/missile.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/missile-intro.htm
http://www.nti.org/db/china/wcmdat_table.htm

120nm = 222km

My best guesstimate is that it is 120km for C802. But with 180km for C802A and a little more for the air-launched KD-88 you can see were the confusion might come from.

yeah, don't use those. I'm pretty sure 120 NM is do-able from the past sources. Crobato's link should be as good evidence as any.

 

[tatra]

Never said it wasn't doable. Just looked at what data I found.

 

[merkboy]

Looking at their current assets, its about time they upgraded their ASMs. I'm not saying that their current naval weaponry are no good at all, but if you look at their ship's weapons, u would agree.

 

[Khairul Alam]

Looking at their current assets, its about time they upgraded their ASMs. I'm not saying that their current naval weaponry are no good at all, but if you look at their ship's weapons, u would agree.

You are right. Its about time Bangladesh Navy undergoes a complete overhaul. It might have a sizeable fleet, but only a few platforms are capable of modern warfare. Lets take the frigates in the BN. Only two are missile capable. That includes the BNS Osman, which until very recently, had the Silkworm missile (HY-2) as its principal weapon.
But things are beginning to change. BN has acquired an advanced South Korean frigate; a Daewoo DW 2000-H frigate, named BNS Khalid Bin AL Waleed. They are armed with the Otomat MK-2 ASMs, and the Chinese FM-90N SAMs (some say its a copy of the naval Crotale SAMs). And now, BNS Osman acquired the C-802. So, BN is slowly expanding its capabilities.