China Released Footage of Operational Test of YJ‑20 Anti‑ship Missile (Video)

Reports indicate the missile has a range of about 1500 km, carries a warhead of nearly 400 kg, reaches an average speed close to Mach 10 along its ballistic trajectory, and approaches its target at around Mach 8 in the terminal phase.

Back in 2022, China’s navy tested an unidentified hypersonic missile from a Type‑055 destroyer. At the time, it was believed to be the naval version of the YJ‑21. However, with the unveiling of the new YJ‑20 in 2025—whose design closely resembles that earlier missile—analysts now believe China has been pursuing two separate missile projects simultaneously.

The deployment of YJ‑20 hypersonic missiles combined with the offensive capabilities of Chinese aircraft carriers, poses a serious challenge to U.S. strategic assets in the Pacific. China has heavily invested in hypersonic missile technology in recent years.