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C-704
Type	anti-ship / air-to-surface
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	prior to 2006 – present
Used by	China
Production history
Manufacturer	China Aviation Industry Corporation
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)
Speed	high subsonic
Guidance system	ARH / ImIR IR / TV
Launch platform	Air & surface

The C-704 is a Chinese anti-ship missile. The missile was developed by the third research institute of the Chinese Aerospace Group, also the manufacturer of the C-701.

Design

This anti-ship missile is designed specifically for targets with 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 new missile appears as an enlarged version of the C-701, with larger warhead. However, a brand new seeker is adopted, it is 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 ships/boats, and from land/vehicle. Like the C-701, this missile cannot be launched from submarine yet. 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 is the only version appeared at the sixth Zhuhai airshow, at which the manufacturers confirmed that the development of imaging infrared and television, 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 caught by Israel in Victoria Affair

On 16 March 2011, Israel Defense Forces 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 by Israeli Navy. The missiles were suspected to be of Iranian origin, being shipped to Hamas in the Gaza Strip for use in attacks on Israeli Naval vessels.^[2][3]

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 but fired unexpectedly five minutes later and didn't hit the target. The second missile fired as expected but failed during flight.^[4]

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 air-to-surface version of the C-704 is first revealed to the public in 7th Zhuhai Airshow in 2008, with KD stands for Kong Di, or Air - Ground. 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 is replaced a dual band IR seeker, covering both IR windows (3 - 5 um & 8 - 12 um), providing some help against stealth targets, as claimed by the developer. Other derivatives of the C-704KD revealed at the airshow included yet another electro-optical guided version, which utilizes a gimballed TV and IIR seekers, with the IIR version uses a magnesium fluoride window. Like another development of C-704 revealed at the same airshow, the C-705, C-704KD is also compatible with radar and GPS guidance. The kill probability of C-704KD is quoted at 96% by its developer.

C-705

At the 7th Zhuhai Airshow, another member of the C-70X series is 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 concentrated in following areas: configuration, propulsion, warhead and guidance. The original rocket engine of the C-704 was replaced with a larger one, plus addition of turbojet engine and retractable wings, increasing 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 is reduced to 110 kg, but the adaption of HVTD-H high-explosive directional warhead enabled the missile to effectively neutralize targets size up to 1,500 tons. Several seekers has 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. Developer claimed that domestic Chinese satellite navigational can also be used. Currently Indonesia is planning on licensed/joint manufacturing the C-705 and installed them on Indonesian design and built KCR type fast attack craft.^[5]

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^[6]


• 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 imaging infrared (IIR) seeker on C-705KD.^[7] 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-forgot mode is still available at the same time.^[8] C-705KD and C-705 are interchangeable on the same hardpoint.

Operators

Map with C-704 operators in blue

Current operators

 Bangladesh

• Bangladesh Navy

 China

• People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force

 Egypt

• Egyptian Navy

 Indonesia

• 
  Indonesian Navy^{[9][10][11][12]}

 Iran

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to C-704.

• C-704