Type 022 Houbei

A fast, waterjet-driven Chinese catamaran missile boat built to deliver coordinated eight-missile salvoes in coastal and near-littoral waters.

Overview

The Type 022, known by the NATO and US reporting name Houbei class and frequently called the Type 22 in Chinese coverage, is a People's Liberation Army Navy fast attack craft optimized for coastal defense and anti-ship strike. Its wave-piercing catamaran hull, four waterjets and reduced-signature superstructure distinguish it from the conventional monohull missile boats that preceded it. Each boat carries eight YJ-83 anti-ship cruise missiles, giving a small hull a substantial offensive salvo.

The class was produced rapidly during the 2000s as China expanded its ability to contest nearby waters. A Congressional Research Service assessment estimated that about 60 Houbei boats were built between 2004 and 2009, although other external estimates place total construction as high as 83 hulls. The boats are intended to operate cooperatively rather than as independent surface combatants: tactical datalinks allow multiple craft to coordinate attacks, with an eight-boat squadron theoretically releasing 64 missiles in one salvo, according to Forecast International's Defense Security Monitor.

The Type 022 remains associated primarily with China's near seas. It has not seen combat, but PLAN units employ the class for patrol, tracking, interception and maritime-claims enforcement missions. Its continuing utility rests on speed, numbers and concentrated missile fire rather than endurance or broad multirole capability.

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