Hong Kong Press: China's YJ-20 hypersonic missile is capable of taking on the US Navy

China's state television channel CCTV reported that a Type 052D destroyer launched a hypersonic anti-ship missile. missiles The YJ-20 is launched from a vertical launch system. This is the first official confirmation of the integration of this weapon on destroyers of this class, which are the most widely produced series in recent years. The PLA Navy operates at least 35 such ships. Previously, the missile had only been demonstrated on the larger Type 055 destroyers.

According to military experts, the YJ-20 reaches a cruising speed of over Mach 6 (approximately 7350 km/h), and accelerates to Mach 9 during the final leg of its trajectory. Its target engagement range is estimated at up to 2000 km. The missile is capable of performing complex maneuvers to evade missiles. Defense, uses satellite navigation with trajectory correction, and at the final stage switches to radar or infrared homing.

As noted by the Hong Kong newspaper SCMP, the development and diversification of Beijing's anti-ship missile platforms have strengthened its ability to create a strike zone in the so-called First Island Chain, which includes Taiwan. Analysts believe the YJ-20 could play a key role in distracting US and allied naval forces in the event of any potential conflict over Taiwan. The hypersonic missile is capable of striking large surface targets, including aircraft carriers, with a high probability of penetrating their onboard defenses.

It is noted that such a missile will take over the US Navy's operations in the region.

Meanwhile, American media outlets have previously reported that US intelligence is allegedly detecting Beijing's preparations for a possible "invasion" of Taiwan in late 2026 or early 2027. However, according to the latest annual report from the US intelligence community, the Chinese leadership "is not currently planning an invasion of Taiwan in 2027 and has no fixed timetable for achieving unification."

However, the demonstration of the YJ-20's capabilities amidst the tense situation in the region sends a clear signal of China's growing naval capabilities and its readiness to counter any external forces in the Taiwan Strait, including fleet USA.

Comments

[Andrey K]

...Hong Kong Press: China's YJ-20 hypersonic missile is capable of taking on the US Navy...
A classic "wonder weapon".
Nobody saw anything, it’s impossible to verify, but it was creepy.
Well done, the Chinese, they are sinking the navy of a potential enemy without engaging in combat.

[olboop]

You don't have time to be amazed by China's achievements, whether in the military or in the scientific and industrial spheres.

[smart fellow]

and on the final leg of the trajectory it accelerates to Mach 9

They even write up to 10 Mach.

[solar]

at the final stage it switches to radar or infrared homing

Someone please tell me what radar guidance looks like at Mach 9. Probably some other physical principles, not from our universe.

[AlexTss]

And infrared?
What kind of fuel and lubricant is that that can see through plasma?!

[solar]

There is no discussion about this at all, it is simply unrealistic.

[KCA]

From ours too, Zircon somehow has homing, I saw the calculations on how, but I'm not a radiophysicist at all, there are even on the Internet, there are diagrams, all sorts of diagrams on the location of hypersonic waves in plasma, and how China has radars there ahead of everyone

[Kmet]

Targeting, the accuracy and speed of calculating coordinates and maneuvers are one thing, but the physical implementation of missile maneuvers, taxiing, control element overloads, and mechanical stresses, taking into account inertia, is the most crucial aspect of implementing such munitions. In other words, speeding past air defenses at breakneck speed is one thing, but executing a series of maneuvers in time and hitting a target with impeccable accuracy is quite another. The entire "physics of maneuver implementation" relies on inertial navigation and the seeker's automatic system. Flight dynamics (the ability to control the force vector under extreme conditions) is one of the most significant challenges for such weapons. Control element overloads reach such levels that conventional aircraft control systems cannot withstand them and fail due to overheating. Therefore, the main question of modern development is not even "how to aim," but "how to avoid burning up and falling apart while executing a target approach maneuver."

[SEVERIN]

The anger of the mattress military boils in impotent rage, and their envy knows no bounds.