China's CM-302 supersonic anti-ship missile (AShM), an upgrade of the obsolete CM-301 cruise missile no longer in use by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), is being touted by its makers as the best AShM in the world

China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), maker of the CM-302 and China's largest missile-maker, however, qualifies the phrase, "the world's best anti-ship missile," to really mean "the world's best anti-ship missile" sold on the international arms market for export to other nations.

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Billing the upgrade of an AShM considered obsolete by the navy of one's own country as "the world's best" is a tall tale, to say the least.

But CASIC spokesman Lyu Xiaoge is adamant the CM-302 being the world's best AShM "is not an exaggeration."              

His justification for the statement is the CM-302 can fly at supersonic speeds during its entire 290 kilometer trajectory. He claims the almost 10 meter-long missile can be mounted on ships, aircraft or ground vehicles. It can also be used to destroy land targets.

He also correctly argued that only two other supersonic AShMs are being sold on the international arms market. These are India's BrahMos and Russia's P-800 Oniks from which BrahMos was derived.

Both these cruise missiles don't have the advantages CM-302 has, said Lyu.

"They can be supersonic only during one certain part of the flight and can't be mounted on multiple platforms."

What Lyu forgot to mention is the CM-302 isn't deployed by the PLAN on any of its warships, or that the People's Liberation Army believes the only meaningful role for the CM-302 is as a coastal defense missile.

The CM-302's value as an air launched AShM is in doubt because its huge length and weight of 3.1 metric tons means only one Chinese warplane can carry it: the Xian H-6 strategic bomber.  This bomber can only loft one CM-302.

The CM-302's key advantage is that because it's a liquid fueled rocket, it can reach much faster speeds than solid fueled missiles.

The CM-302, which was designed for export, resembles the YJ-12 heavy-duty, supersonic AShM, which is shorter, lighter and packs a smaller warhead than the CM-302.

CASIC claims a single CM-302 can disable a 5,000 metric ton guided missile destroyer. The U.S. Navy has no destroyers in this weight class. All its operational Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers weigh upwards of 7,500 metric tons.

TagsCM-302, anti-ship missile, AShM, People's Liberation Army Navy, PLAN, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, CM-301