China expands reach of YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missiles

The YJ-20, which debuted at a Beijing military parade last September, was previously restricted to the larger, more specialized Type 055 cruisers. By mounting the missile on the Type 052D, the People’s Liberation Army Navy significantly increases its regional reach, as these 40-odd vessels serve as the primary patrol force in the South China Sea and across East Asia. Footage featured on CCTV demonstrated a cold-launch sequence, where the missile is ejected vertically before ignition.

Military attaches monitoring the region view the YJ-20 as a major leap in capability, citing a range of 1,500 kilometers and the capacity to strike moving maritime targets. With speeds exceeding Mach 5, the missile presents a substantial challenge to existing interception systems. The Pentagon’s December assessment confirmed that China currently maintains the world’s leading hypersonic arsenal, continuing to refine both conventional and nuclear-armed platforms to secure maritime dominance in potential conflict scenarios like those involving Taiwan.