These were four improved Yingji-18 land-attack Cruise Missiles! They also came in different versions. The Yingji-18 Cruise Missiles mounted on Type 055 large missile destroyers had a maximum range of nearly 2,000 kilometers!
But the launch tubes on the Type 052D were not as absurdly capable as those on the Type 055, so they could only carry the basic version modified from the Yingji-18 Anti-ship Missile without sacrificing range, with a maximum attack range of 800 kilometers.
Even so, that was more than enough. They were only a hundred kilometers from the target!
So after launch, with no need to worry about running out of fuel, the turbojet engines for the second stage flew at maximum power. The Yingji-18 Cruise Missiles entered supersonic cruise in their second stage, and their terminal penetration speed could exceed Mach 3!
Less than a kilometer after the first batch of four Yingji-18 Cruise Missiles left the warship, a second batch of four identical Yingji-18 Cruise Missiles blasted off the deck in a rush of flames.
"All missiles launched. Data guidance commencing."
"The first batch of missiles is expected to hit the target in three minutes. Full satellite data access established!"
"Optical imaging and infrared remote-sensing satellite data integrated! Comprehensive data matching successful!"
"Target locked. Radar lock from Military Satellite No. 3 successful!"
"Data guidance in progress..."
"Missile attitude normal! Switching to hypersonic climb in 52 seconds!"
When the countdown ended, the tails of the four missiles flying almost flush with the ground instantly separated. Their second-stage turbojet engines were jettisoned, and the solid rocket propulsion systems in their final warheads ignited once more. The four Yingji-18 Cruise Missiles instantly broke through Mach 3!
Behind them, their second batch of brothers was closing in at high speed!
The first four Yingji-18 Cruise Missiles, trailing