Algeria fires a coastal-defence missile in the “Mediterranean Falcon 2026” exercise – the footage points to the Chinese CM-302

A coastal-defence missile of the Algerian Navy destroyed a sea target in the tactical exercise “Mediterranean Falcon 2026” (Sakr El-Moutawassit 2026), held on Tuesday, November 10 on Algeria’s western coast. The Algerian Ministry of National Defence did not name the missile, but the footage it released shows a system resembling China’s CM-302, the export version of the YJ-12 anti-ship missile. That assessment comes from the South China Morning Post, based on the wheeled launcher with three rectangular transport-and-launch canisters visible in the video.

The exercise was overseen by the Chief of the General Staff of the People’s National Army (ANP) and Deputy Minister of National Defence, General Said Chanegriha, on the second day of his visit to the 2nd Military Region in Oran. The ministry’s statement says the exercise included a “coastal-defence missile firing against a surface target” and that “the naval target was destroyed with great accuracy.” According to the ministry, the result shows that crews control their weapon systems and equipment, and reflects the progress and operational readiness the Naval Forces units have achieved in recent years. The exercise is part of the 2026-2027 combat-readiness programme.

At the main naval base of Mers el-Kebir, Chanegriha was received by the Naval Forces commander, Maj. Gen. Mahfoud Benmeddah, and inspected a formation of ships that rendered him honours. A briefing by the commander of the Western Maritime Façade on the phases of the exercise followed. In his address to personnel, Chanegriha congratulated the units and stressed the importance of coastal surveillance and of protecting the country from threats that can come from the sea, as well as of the fight against illegal migration and drug trafficking, a phenomenon he said “requires a decisive response.”

The CM-302 in Algeria

Reports of Algeria acquiring the CM-302 have circulated since 2021, and in 2022 photographs were published of camouflaged vehicles that probably carried the Chinese coastal system. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) lists the CM-302, also referred to as the YJ-12E, among Algeria’s coastal missiles in the 2024 and 2026 editions of The Military Balance. The system was developed by the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) and was presented at the Zhuhai air show in 2016. China’s Xinhua agency gives a range of 290 kilometres and a warhead of more than 250 kilograms. The manufacturer promotes the missile’s supersonic speed and low-altitude flight over the sea, which leave a ship less time to detect and intercept it.

China accounted for 27% of Algeria’s imports of major weapons in 2021-2025, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The largest supplier remains Russia with 39%, from which Algeria is reported to have received Su-57 fifth-generation fighters. Meanwhile neighbouring Morocco is negotiating with Israel for LORA ballistic missiles, in a deal that has not been officially confirmed.