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The C-704 is a Chinese anti-ship missile. The missile was developed by the Third Research Institute of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC). It’s part of the C-701 series missiles.

History and development

During the Falkland War, the Royal Air Force (RAF) used Westland Lynx to launch Sea Skua anti-ship missiles against Argentinian patrol boats. Helicopter-based anti-surface operation was seen as a viable option in any potential Taiwan Strait operation by the Chinese military industry. In the 1990s, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) Third Academy and Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (Hongdu) both initiated small anti-ship missile projects, resulting in CASIC’s C-701 missile and Hongdu’s TL-10 missile. Both missiles shared very similar specifications, but with a slight deviation in launch profile. The initial model of the C-701 focused on surface launch from boats, while TL-10 focused on helicopter air-launch integration.[3]

In the 1990s, Hongdu developed TL-6, an enlarged TL-10.[4][5] CASIC also developed the C-704, an enlarged C-701. The C-704 became a general-purpose air-to-surface missile that can engage both naval and land targets, making it a Chinese equivalent of the American AGM-65 Maverick.[6]

Jane’s Defence Weekly suspected that the reason behind the similar roles, dimensions, and performance of the C-701 and TL-10 was that they were part of a competition bid intended for Iran’s Kowsar missile program.[4] Sources conflict regarding which missile variant ultimately entered service with the Iranian military; one account states that the TL-10/FL-8 and TL-6/FL-9 became the Kowsar and Nasar missiles,[7] while another suggests that the C-701[8] and C-704[9][10] were the ones developed into these two systems.

Design

Iranian Nasr-1, based on the C-704

The C-704KD is an air-to-surface version of the C-704.

The C-705 is part of the C-701 series[1] and a direct development of the C-704, resembling a miniaturized C-602. Compared to the C-704, the C-705 has a larger rocket motor with an additional turbojet engine. The C-705 with rocket booster and the engine can have a range of 170 km (92 nmi).[1][11]

The C-705KD is an air-to-surface version of the C-705. It supports a radar seeker, a TV seeker, or an imaging infrared (IIR). It supports fire-and-forget mode, a data-link mid-course correction and target switching.[12][13]

Operational history

On 16 March 2011, Israeli Defense Forces allegedly 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. Israeli authorities stated that the weapons were of Iranian origin[by whom?], and that they were being shipped to Hamas in the Gaza Strip.[14][15]

In 2013, Bangladesh Navy corvette BNS Dhaleshwari fired four C-704 anti-ship missiles in a domestic naval exercise with all four of them hitting their target successfully.[16]

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 and fired unexpectedly five minutes later, missing the target. The second missile fired as expected but failed during flight.[17] Indonesia planned to manufacture the missile locally; however, the project is halted due to the incident.[18]

On 29 June 2016, the Indonesian Navy announced its purchase of the Chinese-made C-705.[19] Indonesia used C-705 against land targets in 2026, the first public display of this capability.[20]

Variants

C-802 (top) and C-705 (bottom) missile launches against target ship KRI Slamet Riyadi.
C-704
Original variant
C-704KD
Air-to-surface variant of the C-704.
C-705
Anti-ship missile with a turbojet engine.
C-705KD
Air-to-surface variant of the C-705.

Specifications

Missile specifications of Tianlong (TL) and C-701/C-704 series[2][4][3][21]
TL-10 C-701 TL-6 C-704 C-705
Manufacturer Hongdu CASIC Hongdu CASIC CASIC
Launch mass 105 kg (231 lb) 117 kg (258 lb) 350 kg (770 lb) 360 kg (790 lb)
Warhead 30 kg (66 lb) semi-armor piercing (SAP) 29–30 kg (64–66 lb) SAP 130 kg (290 lb) 130 kg (290 lb) 110–130 kg (240–290 lb)
Length 2.5 m (8.2 ft) 2.685 m (8.81 ft) 3.4–3.5 m (11–11 ft) 3.284 m (10.77 ft)
Diameter 18 cm (7.1 in) 18 cm (7.1 in) 28 cm (11 in) 28 cm (11 in)
Span 568 mm (22.4 in) 586 mm (23.1 in) 900 mm (35 in) 480–1,018 mm (18.9–40.1 in)
Range 25 km (13 nmi) 25 km (13 nmi) 35 km (19 nmi) 38 km (21 nmi) 140–170 km (76–92 nmi)
Seeker TV / Active radar / imaging infrared
Motor Dual thrust / dual chamber solid rocket Turbojet engine w/ rocket booster
Speed Mach 0.85 Mach 0.85 Mach 0.9 Mach 0.8

Operators

Map with C-704 operators in blue

Current operators

Bangladesh
 China
 Egypt
 Indonesia
 Iran
Pakistan

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Hsiao, Russell (19 November 2010). “China Unveils Sea Defense System to Counter Aircraft Carrier”. Jamestown Foundation.
  2. ^ a b “C704” (PDF). China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation. July 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b “射程飙升至50公里！YJ-9增程型配直-20F，舰队防御圈扩大3倍”. Tencent News. 9 November 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Hewson, Robert (17 November 2004). “China aids Iran’s tactical missile programme”. Jane’s Defence Weekly.
  5. ^ Barrie, Douglas (8 November 2004). “China Reveals Domestic, Export-Oriented Guided Weapons Programs”. Aviation Week.
  6. ^ “Military Aspects of the Air Show China 2008 – SinoDefence.com”. Archived from the original on 2011-03-20. Retrieved 2010-12-09.
  7. ^ “外军观察：提升伊朗军事实力的导弹工业(组图)”. Sina News. 13 April 2006. “科萨尔”(Kosar)、”纳瑟”(Nasr)、”卡卢斯”(Karus)、”汤达”(Tondar)和前述”诺尔”导弹，分别对应于中国的”飞龙”-8、”飞龙”-9、C-801、C-802
  8. ^ 王宏亮 (26 March 2017). “宏亮瞻局 波斯湾如何”反介入”？解密伊朗反舰导弹（上）”. The Papaer. 中国出口的另一种小型反舰导弹C-701也进入伊朗军队服役，在伊朗这种导弹被称为”克萨”
  9. ^ a b “C-704 (Nasr-1)”. 16 December 2013. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  10. ^ O’Hern, Steven (31 October 2012). Iran’s Revolutionary Guard: The Threat That Grows While America Sleeps. Potomac Books. ISBN 9781597977012.
  11. ^ “C-705 AShM”. Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  12. ^ C-705KD[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ “C-705KD missile”. Archived from the original on 2018-06-24. Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  14. ^ “Israel to release German-owned arms ship and crew – Monsters and Critics”. Archived from the original on 2011-03-18. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  15. ^ “Israel’s latest PR bid has failed – Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper”. Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2011-03-18. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  16. ^ “Former Coast Guard Cutter Jarvis Transferred to Growing Bangladesh Navy”. defensemedianetwork.com. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  17. ^ “Janes | Latest defence and security news”. Archived from the original on 2017-08-29. Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  18. ^ Liputan6.com (2016-09-16). “Rudal China Gagal Meluncur, TNI AL Diminta Batalkan Pembelian”. liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2021-07-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ a b “Navy launches second locally made guided-missile boat | The Jakarta Post”. Archived from the original on 2016-09-18. Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  20. ^ Rahmat, Ridzwan (27 April 2026). “Indonesia conducts first firing of C-705 missile at land target”. Janes.
  21. ^ “简氏:中国帮伊朗设工厂产C704反舰导弹(图)”. China Daily. 27 April 2010.
  22. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2020). “Chapter Six: Asia”. The Military Balance. 120 (1): 255. doi:10.1080/04597222.2020.1707967. S2CID 219627149.
  23. ^ “Inilah Spesifikasi KCR-40, Diharapkan Menambah Kekuatan Armada TNI AL”. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013.
  24. ^ “An Analysis of China’s Military Diplomacy towards Iran” (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  25. ^ Taghvaee, Babak (23 May 2026). “DECAPITATION AT SEA”. Key Aero.
  26. ^ “New Missile Systems for JF-17 Thunder”. Pakistan Defence. 2015-06-20. Retrieved 2026-06-15.