Chinese state media has revealed the first footage of a Type 052D destroyer launching the YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile. Previously limited to larger Type 055 cruisers, this integration allows China to expand its hypersonic strike capability across its fleet of approximately 35 Type 052D destroyers. The YJ-20 travels at speeds up to Mach 10 with a range of up to 1,500 kilometers. This development significantly bolsters Beijing's anti-access and area-denial strategy in the Western Pacific, complicating defense planning for the U.S. Navy and its allies.
YJ-20 Type 052D integration
- ▪Chinese state media released footage showing a Type 052D guided-missile destroyer launching a YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile.
- ▪The footage of the YJ-20 missile launch from a Type 052D destroyer was featured in a trailer for a six-part military documentary.
- ▪The YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile was previously known to be deployed only on China's larger Type 055 cruisers.
Hypersonic missile technical specifications
- ▪The YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile is designed to target moving ships and large surface combatants such as aircraft carriers.
- ▪The YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile has an estimated operational range of 1,000 to 1,500 kilometers, or up to 2,000 kilometers according to some experts.
- ▪The YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile is estimated to fly at speeds of Mach 6 or higher, with terminal speeds reaching up to Mach 10.
Cold-launch vertical system compatibility
- ▪The compact design of the YJ-20 allows it to fit inside standard vertical launch cells used on modern Chinese destroyers without major modifications.
- ▪The YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile is vertically cold-launched, meaning it is ejected from its launcher by compressed gas before its engine ignites.
Chinese destroyer fleet expansion
- ▪Combining the Type 055 and Type 052D fleets provides China with at least 45 warships capable of fielding hypersonic maritime strike capabilities.
- ▪China operates approximately 35 Type 052D destroyers, which form the backbone of its active destroyer fleet.
Western Pacific anti-access strategy
- ▪Military analysts state that the YJ-20 would likely be deployed to help China's navy control East Asian seas in potential Taiwan conflict scenarios.
- ▪The deployment of the YJ-20 on Type 052D destroyers strengthens China's anti-access and area-denial strategy in the Western Pacific.
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