The SY-2 / CSS-N-5 Sabot is a solid rocket powered derivative of the Styx. It is readily distinguished by the cylindrical fuselage shape and pair of small horizontal surfaces at the base of the vertical stabiliser.



The SY-2 is the replacement missile for the earlier SY-1 cloned Styx, intended for deployment from surface combatants and coastal batteries. While it is a Styx derivative, it is a substantial redesign with a solid propellant rocket motor rather than the cumbersome liquid propellant design of the Styx. It is often mislabelled in the literature as one of the two earlier liquid propellant variants.

 While the basic airframe configuration is the same, and the wings and anhedralled tail likely identical, the new fuselage is cylindrical but longer. Development of this weapon was initiated during the 1970s and IOC achieved during the 1990s. There are claims that the improved SY-2A has a turbojet powerplant, but little material is available on this weapon. The basic version has a cited range of 50 - 130 km.

 The SY-2 is deployed on a number of surface combatants previously armed with Styx variants.

 The export variant of this missile is the FL-2. This weapon is believed to have been exported to Iran, as pictures of it appear frequently on Iranian websites.

 While the Styx family of cruise missiles is widely regarded to be obsolete today, and too large and slow to penetrate modern defences on warships, the missile remains strategically important, due to its lethality and wide deployment. Used against transports, tankers, amphibious ships and other targets without defensive systems, the missile is highly lethal.

SOURCES: http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-Cruise-Missiles.html#mozTocId500709

