C-701 and C-704 Subsonic Missiles

The C-701 and the C-704 are both light-weight, multi-purpose, subsonic missiles from China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) and designed for light and small platforms such as vehicles, speedboats and helicopters. The C-701 has a weight of 117 kg, a range of 25 km and a 30 kg warhead.

The upgraded C-704 has an extended range of 38 km and a heavier warhead of 130 kg. The seeker is modular, depending on mission, and can be Television, Imaging Infrared or Active Radar.

The C-701 family of missiles is targeted at short-range attack, supplemented by the C-602 family for long-range attack and the C-802 family for medium-range attack.

Both the C-701 and C704 have been exported to Iran, where they are produced under license and designated Kowsar and Nasr-1 respectively. On the 16th of March 2011, a shipment of 6 C-704 missiles of Iranian origin and destined for Hamas in the Gaza Strip was seized aboard a vessel by the Israel Defense Forces.

They were intended to be used to attack Israeli naval vessels, similar to the successful attack on the Sa'ar 5 class corvette INS Hanit during the 2006 Lebanon War. This attack resulted in 4 fatalities.

Another known user of the C-704 missile is Bangladesh.