Type 22 missile boat

The Type 22 (NATO designation: Houbei class)^[5] missile boat is a ship class in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. The first boat was launched in April 2004 by the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard at Shanghai. The boats incorporate stealth features and are based on Australian-designed wave-piercing catamaran hulls that are more stable than other fast missile craft in high sea conditions.^[6] 82 of these missile boats are currently in service with three flotillas having been produced over a span of seven years,^[2] operating in squadrons of eight vessels each.^[7]

Class overview
Name	Type 22
Builders	Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, Shanghai
Operators	People's Liberation Army Navy
Preceded by	Type 037-II-class missile boat & C 14-class missile boat
Cost	Estimates vary from $14.5 million[1] over $40 million[2] up to $50 million per boat[3]
Built	2004–present
In commission	2004–present
Completed	82
Active	82
General characteristics
Displacement	220 long tons (224 t) full load
Length	42.6 m (139 ft 9 in)
Beam	12.2 m (40 ft 0 in)
Draught	1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Decks	1
Propulsion	2 diesel engines @ 6,865 hp (5,119 kW) with 4 waterjet propulsors by MARI
Speed	50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph)
Complement	12[4]
Sensors & processing systems	Surface search radar: 1 Type 362 Navigational radar: 1 Electro-optics: HEOS 300
Armament	Anti-ship missiles: 8 YJ-83 Surface-to-air missiles: Possible QW class MANPAD missiles 1 × licensed copy of KBP AO-18 6-barrel 30 mm gun (AK-630) by ZEERI
Notes	Details remain speculative

As of 2025, the Type 22 missile boat is the fastest ship class in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy.^[8]

Design

The Type 22 fast attack craft are China's entry into a growing list of missile-armed attack craft which include Finland's Hamina class missile boat, and Norway's Skjold class patrol boat. The wave-piercing catamaran design may mean as much as a 50% reduction in vessel speed penalty in high sea conditions (in which monohulls may only perform at half or less of their maximum capability). Further, seasickness and disorientation is significantly reduced, improving the combat readiness/situational awareness of the small-craft operators during such conditions.

The polygonal-designed superstructure with its similarly angled gun mount indicates a reduced radar cross-section, but built out of aluminium rather than composites. The Type 22 has an advanced C4 datalink^[4] that may represent some kind of capability to allow AWACS planes or other ships to vector the Type 22's missiles. The aluminium hull is reported to use friction stir welding.^[9]

The Type 22 missile boat is capable of a 360 degrees turn on the spot.^[8]

Purpose

Type 22 Class in disruptive camouflage with cryptic coloration

The Type 22 missile boat's main purpose is to employ hit and run tactics by rapidly firing all of it's 8 YJ-83 missiles and quickly escaping.^[8]

See also

• Kuang Hua VI-class missile boat
• Skjold class patrol boat
• Hamina class missile boat
• Roussen Class fast attack craft
• Type 021 class missile boat
• Tuo Chiang-class corvette