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Fish Type 8 (Yu-8) rocket-assisted torpedo [RAT]

After the Second World War, the United States began to develop anti-submarine missiles. In 1961, it was equipped with ASROC anti-submarine missiles launched by surface ships with a range of more than 10 kilometers. In 1964, it was equipped with SUBROC launched by submarines. Anti-submarine missiles with a range of 55 kilometers; in the early 1980s, the development of new long-range anti-submarine missiles began. Since the 1970s, the Soviet Union has been equipped with SS-N-14, SS-N-15, SS-N-16 anti-submarine missiles.

The latest exposure of the Yu-8 rocket-assisted torpedo can be regarded as another launch form of the Yu-7, and its development can be traced back to the Changying-1. As early as 1979, when the MK46 was first dissected into pieces for research, the Navy proposed using the Yu-7 as a rocket-assisted torpedo warhead that had just been conceptualized in China at that time.

Like most missiles in China, the model sequence of the rocket-assisted torpedo/anti-submarine missile "Changying" comes from Chairman Mao's "Qingpingle Liupanshan" "Today the Changying is in hand, when will the Canglong be bound". In 1984, shortly after the model was determined with a technical solution similar to ASROC, it was renamed Changying-1 and became a project of the Aerospace sector.

But it was finally discontinued in the 1990s. This was because the development time was too long and the technology was backward for the new stage of the Chinese Navy's anti-submarine warfare mission. The Changying-1, which used the same ballistic principle as the ASROC, only had a range of 18km and could no longer be used. To meet the needs; the institute began to develop the Changying-2 with a maximum range extended to about 50km.

In 2002, Changying-2 was transferred from the aerospace sector to the ship sector for a second project approval, and its model sequence was also postponed to Yu-8. Its appearance is similar to that of Changying-1. Both the boost section and the working section adopt cross-shaped rudder surfaces. The flight engine is a single-chamber dual-thrust rocket engine. The engine is separated from the main stage after its work is completed.

In addition to the improvement of engine performance, the secret of the Yu-8's significantly extended range lies in the fact that it flies along a flight-style gliding ballistic trajectory during the flight, rather than purely ballistic. A glimpse of this design idea is seen the foreign trade rocket-assisted torpedo launched using the Guardian-3 long-range rocket launcher system in the picture.

In order to shorten the active flight time in atmospheric flight, the maximum flight speed of the Yu-8 is above M1.5, and the terminal cruise flight speed is M0.7, which greatly reduces the possible escape range of the submarine during flight and improves the hit rate. Its missile body control steering gear draws on the mature design of the YJ-83 anti-ship missile.

The Yu-8 was put into service at the same time as the Type 054A guided missile frigate in 2006. With the new active and passive towed sonar, it can give full play to its longer range. The Type 056A guided missile frigate, which is also equipped with this type of sonar, can use its YJ-83 anti-ship missile launch box to launch Yu-8 together, further improving offshore anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

The People's Liberation Army Navy held a large-scale exercise in the South China Sea at the end of July 2015. At that time, the most striking was the first live-fire launch of the "Fish-8 new anti-submarine missile". The core strength of the 054A combat system is the two missiles equipped with its vertical missile launcher: the Haihongqi-16 medium-range air defense missile and the fish-8 rocket booster anti-submarine torpedo. "Fish-8" is the first type of anti-submarine missile (also known as "Fish-8" rocket-assisted torpedo) officially installed by the People's Liberation Army Navy. It was developed by the China Shipbuilding Industry Group 705 Research Institute. It was officially established in 2002 and completed in 2006. The test was finalized and first installed on the 054A missile frigate.

The Chinese Navy's active fish-8 torpedo was developed by Kunming Branch of the 705 Research Institute of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation. It was established in 2002 and completed in 2006. It was first installed in the Chinese Navy 054A missile frigate. The "Fish-8" anti-submarine missile and the Hongqi-16 type ship-to-air missile not only share the vertical launch system, but also the launch control system is compatible, thus eliminating many facilities and achieving very good versatility. At the same time, other ships can use the Eagle Strike 83 anti-ship missile launcher to launch a "fish-8".

The "Fish-8" anti-submarine missile has a maximum range of tens of kilometers. Its take-off mode, compatibility, attack distance and guidance precision are at an advanced level in the world. It is fast sailing underwater and uses composite guidance, mainly for attacking submarines. And has a certain anti-ship capability.