China Just Unveiled Four New ‘Carrier-Killer’ Missiles—And Three Are Hypersonic
Key Points and Summary
-China used its massive Victory Day parade to officially unveil four new YJ-series anti-ship missiles, dramatically showcasing its advancing capabilities.
-Three of the four new weapons—the YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20—are reported to be hypersonic. Initial analysis suggests these missiles feature diverse and advanced designs, including a “boost-glide waverider” configuration for the YJ-17 and an air-breathing system for the YJ-19.
-The largest, the YJ-20, appears to be a formidable new hybrid weapon for warships, combining ballistic speed with aerodynamic maneuvering to create a significant new threat to naval forces.
China Officially Unveils Four New Missiles: What We Know
In the weeks leading up to China’s September 3 Victory Day parade, analysts speculated about the specifications of a series of previously-unseen missiles that were spotted on the backs of trucks during rehearsals in Beijing.
Now, as China’s Victory Day celebrations come to an end, the world has seen the four new YJ-series anti-ship missiles for themselves – and experts have weighed in to give their thoughts about what we just saw.
Chinese media offered the first confirmed insights into the specifications of the new weapons, with the Global Times reporting that out of the four missiles, three are hypersonic.
The YJ-15 seen at the parade is a conventional missile, while the YJ-19, YJ-17, and YJ-20 are hypersonic missiles.
The Global Times reports that the missiles are designed to be carried by a range of platforms, including shipborne aircraft, surface vessels, and submarines.
The outlet also cited military expert Wang Yunfei, who said that the missiles – based on their appearance – have all been designed with “different technological paths.”
Wang also said that the YJ-15 appears to be relatively small in size compared to the other missiles, and that it shared some similarities with the YJ-12 supersonic antis-ship missile that was seen at the same parade a decade ago – indicating that the YJ-15 should at least be capable of achieving supersonic speeds during flight.
The YJ-17, meanwhile, features a flat warhead and a “boost-glide waverider configuration” – indicating that it is a hypersonic missile. The YJ-17 is believed to be capable of “flexible maneuvering and trajectory change,” making it more difficult to intercept.
The YJ-19, meanwhile, appears similar in design although features an air inlet underneath the body of the missile – suggesting it is an air-breathing hypersonic weapon that travels at speeds greater than Mach 5 by utilizing atmospheric oxygen for propulsion.
The YJ-20 features a bi-conic configuration, whereby two joined cones form the nose or forebody. Its larger size indicates that the missile has been designed to be launched from warships.
That assessment supports earlier reporting from this outlet and others that the YJ-20 – seen during rehearsals – could be a new, hybrid or maneuverable missile that combines aerodynamic maneuvering with ballistic speed.
As with many of the weapons officially “unveiled” during the parade, however, the missiles have not been combat-tested.
And, until official announcements reveal the true extent of the missiles’ capabilities, it is difficult to determine the full capabilities of the new designs.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York who writes frequently for National Security Journal. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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