China Test-Fires Stealth-Coated Variant of YJ-18A Anti-Ship Cruise Missile

Exam-focused facts from the 1 September 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

China has test-fired a stealth anti-ship cruise missile with a black radar-absorbing coating.
The missile was identified as a new variant of the YJ-18A anti-ship cruise missile.
It was launched from a navy ship's vertical launch system during an extreme-performance test in an unknown sea area.
The black coating reduces reflected radar energy and also provides visual camouflage against dark deep-sea water.
The YJ-18A cruises at subsonic speed before making a supersonic terminal attack.
The YJ-18A is often equipped on Type 052D and Type 055 destroyers.
The original YJ-18, derived from the Russian 3M-54E system, has a range of 540 km.
During terminal approach, the missile's warhead can accelerate to Mach 3 speed.