Image Source: topwar.ru
African countries are increasingly "stocking up" on Chinese weapons, including their shock samples. So, in 2021-2025, China accounted for 17% of large arms shipments to Africa - more than Russia (15%) and less than the United States (19%). From drones and air defense systems to supersonic anti-ship missiles, the arsenals of the continent's armies are undergoing weapons "Sinification."
Algeria, which conducted a training launch of a rocket that is an export version of the Chinese YJ-12, is another example of this.
Image source: topwar.ru
We are talking about the CM-302 missile, and this is the export version of the Chinese supersonic anti-ship missile YJ-12. The launch was carried out on November 10 from a mobile coastal missile system near the city of Oran in western Algeria. The shooting took place as part of the exercise "Mediterranean Falcon-2026", the target was an object at sea.
Image source: topwar.ru
The Algerian Ministry of National Defense reported that the target was destroyed with high accuracy, but the missile model was not officially named in the statement.
The launch was carried out from a wheeled launcher with three rectangular containers arranged in a "pyramid". The exercise was supervised by the Chief of the General Staff of the Algerian Army, General Said Shangrikha. Military analysts note that the launcher and the appearance of the missile correspond to the CM-302, and the system is already included in the Algerian coastal defense list in The Military Balance handbook of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The developer of CM-302 is China Aerospace Research and Production Corporation (CASIC). The rocket was first unveiled at the Airshow China in Zhuhai in 2016. The declared range of the export version is about 290 km, the mass of the warhead is about 256 kg, the missile is capable of supersonic flight at low altitude, which reduces the detection and interception window for enemy ships.
Rumors about Algeria's purchase of this system appeared back in 2021, photos of the proposed launcher were published in 2022, and in 2024, the official journal of the Algerian army actually confirmed its deployment.
The current launch fits into Algeria's policy of diversifying arms sources: the country retains traditional purchases from Russia, but is noticeably increasing the share of Chinese systems. In addition to the CM-302, the Algerian army is armed with Chinese Chaika series attack and reconnaissance drones (CH-3, CH-4), PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzers and C28A frigates.
