C-704

The C-704 is a Chinese anti-ship missile. The missile was developed by the Third Research Institute of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), also the manufacturer of the C-701.

C-704
C-705 missile of the Indonesian Navy at Batuporon naval base
Type	Anti-ship / air-to-surface
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	Prior to 2006 – present
Used by	China Bangladesh Egypt Indonesia Iran Pakistan
Production history
Manufacturer	China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC)
Produced	Prior to 2006
Specifications
Warhead	130 kg warhead (C-704) 110-130 kg warhead (C-705)
Detonation mechanism	Semi-armor-piercing
Engine	Rocket motor (C-704) Turbojet (C-705)
Propellant	Solid fuel
Operational range	35 km (C-704) 140-170 km (C-705)
Flight altitude	15–20 meters cruising (C-704) 12.15 meters (C-705)
Maximum speed	High subsonic
Guidance system	Active radar homing / imaging infrared homing / TV
Launch platform	Air and surface

Design

This anti-ship missile is designed specifically for targets with a displacement between 1,000 tons to 4,000 tons. Neither small anti-ship missiles such as the TL-6 and C-701 nor large ones such as the C-802 and Silkworm missile are cost-effective when used for this purpose.

Development

In order to speed up the development and reduce risks, the developer adopted technologies from the C-701. The resulting missile appears as an enlarged version of the C-701, with a larger warhead. Also, a brand new seeker was adopted using a centimetre-wave radar seeker instead of the television, imaging infrared and millimetre-wave radar seekers for the C-701. The C-704 has twice the range of the C-701.

Deployment

Various platforms, including aircraft, surface vessels, and land vehicles can fire the missile. Like the C-701, this missile cannot be launched from submarines. The C-704 anti-ship missile can be readily integrated with the current C4I systems, such as those for the C-701.

History

The radar-seeker-armed version was the only version that appeared at the sixth Zhuhai Airshow, where the manufacturers confirmed that the development of imaging infrared, television, and laser seekers had already been in progress, and like the C-701, the C-704 would eventually become a general-purpose air-to-surface missile that could engage various targets. This would make the C-704 a Chinese equivalent of American AGM-65 E/F/G/J/K Maverick.^[1]

C-704 allegedly caught by Israel in Victoria Affair.^{[citation needed]}

On 16 March 2011, Israeli Defense Forces allegedly intercepted a shipment of six C-704 missiles with launchers and Kelvin Hughes radar units, along with other munitions aboard the Liberian-flagged cargo vessel Victoria, managed by a French shipping company, en route from Turkey to Alexandria, in international waters. Israeli authorities stated that the weapons were of Iranian origin^{[by whom?]}, and that they were being shipped to Hamas in the Gaza Strip.^[2][3]

In 2013, Bangladesh Navy corvette BNS Dhaleshwari fired four C-704 anti-ship missiles in a domestic naval exercise with all four of them hitting their target successfully.^[4]

On 14 September 2016, the Indonesian president witnessed two failed firings of C-705 missiles during a demonstration by the Indonesian Navy. The first missile failed to launch on command and fired unexpectedly five minutes later missing the target. The second missile fired as expected but failed during flight.^[5]

Specifications

Official information on the C-704, released at the sixth Zhuhai Airshow in 2006:

• Warhead: 130 kg
• Speed: High subsonic
• Range: 35 km
• Cruise altitude: 15–20 metres
• Developer: China Aviation Industry Corporation
• Kill probability: > 97.7%

C-704KD

The C-704KD is an air-to-surface version of the C-704, with KD standing for Kong Di (空地), or Air-to-Ground. It was first revealed to the public at the seventh Zhuhai Airshow in 2008. The most significant difference between the original anti-shipping version and the air-to-surface version is in the guidance system. The original radar or IR-UV guidance of the C-704 was replaced by a dual-band IR seeker, covering two IR bands (3-5 μm and 8-12 μm), providing some help against stealth targets, as claimed by the developer. Another derivative of the C-704KD revealed at the airshow includes yet another electro-optical guided version, which utilizes gimballed TV and IIR seekers, with the IIR version using a magnesium fluoride (MgF₂) window. Like the C-705 revealed at the same airshow, the C-704KD is also compatible with radar and GPS guidance. The probability of kill for the C-704KD is quoted at 96% by its developer.

C-705

At the seventh Zhuhai Airshow, another member of the C-70X series was shown to the public. Designated as the C-705, the missile is a direct development of the C-704, yet externally, the new C-705 missile resembles a miniaturized C-602. Major improvements are concentrated in following areas: configuration, propulsion, warhead and guidance. The original rocket engine of the C-704 was replaced with a larger one, and the addition of a turbojet engine and retractable wings increased the range to 140 km. Developers claimed that the modular design of the new engine had the option to provide a second stage to further increase the range to 170 km, but the second stage was not shown at the airshow.

The warhead was reduced to 110 kg, but the adoption of an HVTD-H high-explosive directional warhead enables the missile to effectively neutralize targets up to 1,500 tons. Several seekers have already been developed for the C-705, including radar, TV and IR. For mid-course guidance, GPS or GLONASS are used, though the sample shown at the 2008 airshow is only compatible with GPS due to export purpose. The developer claimed that domestic Chinese satellite navigation can also be used. Previously, Indonesia was planning on licensed/joint manufacturing the C-705 and installing them on Indonesian designed and built KCR type fast attack craft.^[6] However because of the poor performance of the missile, the project is halted.^[7]

Specifications:

• Weight: 320 kg
• Warhead: 110 to 130  kg
• Range: 140 km to 170 km
• Engine: small turbojet engine plus solid rocket booster
• Seeker: radar, TV, or IR
• Cruise altitude: 12.15 meter (lowest)
• Target size: ships up to 1,500 to 3,000 tons^[8]
• Launching platform: aircraft, surface vessels, and land vehicles
• Kill probability: > 95.7%

C-705KD

The radar seeker of the anti-ship version of C-705 is replaced by either a TV seeker or an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker on C-705KD.^[9] In addition, a data link is also incorporated to enable the operator to change the target after the missile is launched when needed, though the fire-and-forget mode is still available.^[10] C-705KD and C-705 are interchangeable on the same hardpoint.

Operators

Map with C-704 operators in blue

Current operators

Bangladesh

• Bangladesh Navy: C-704^[11]

 China

• People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force

 Egypt

• Egyptian Navy

 Indonesia

• Indonesian Navy: C-705^[12][13]

C-802 (top) and C-705 (bottom) missile launches against target ship KRI Slamet Riyadi.

 Iran ^{[citation needed]}

• Iranian navy

Pakistan

• Pakistan Air Force