China Brings Enhanced Variant of CJ-10 Long Range Cruise Missile Into Service

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Rocket Force has begun to operate an improved variant of the CJ-10 cruise missile, one of the most widely fielded cruise missile types in the world, which has for two decades formed the backbone of the country’s long range tactical strike capabilities. The CJ-10 was developed by the Third Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, and was first launched in 2001, before entering service in 2006. It has an estimated range of between 2,000-2,500 kilometres, uses inertial and satellite guidance. 

The CJ-10’s early development reportedly benefitted from the study of the remains of fragments U.S. Navy Tomahawk cruise missiles obtained through Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as from extensive technology transfers from Russia and Ukraine from the Soviet Kh-55 program. While air and ship launched variants of the missile have been developed for the Air Force and Navy, the Rocket Force integrate the missiles onto WS-2400 vertical transporter-launcher vehicle. Unconfirmed reports also indicate that the Rocket Force has also begun to field variants developed for anti-shipping roles, based, the YJ-100 derivative of the CJ-10 design which is integrated onto Chinese destroyers.

While cutting edge when first operationalise, the CJ-10 has since been superseded by new generations of missiles, including the DF-17 missile that carries a hypersonic glide vehicle and has a similar range. The DF-100 unveiled in 2019 provides greater accuracy, has a 3,000–4,000 kilometre range, and travels at high supersonic speeds making it far more challenging to intercept. The development of new generations of cruise missiles has raised questions regarding the extent to which the CJ-10 is still in production, although the development of new variants with a new launch vehicle indicates that the design continues to be valued, potentially due to its lower cost than newer cruise missile types.