China Fires YJ-20 Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile From Smaller Destroyer

Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyEvidence has emerged indicating that China’s YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile is now also being fielded aboard the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) Type 052D class destroyers. The first footage of Chinese YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile being launched from a Type 052D destroyer. Typically, the Type 052D’s VLS would be loaded with variants of the HHQ-9 surface-to-air missile, YJ-18 subsonic anti-ship cruise missile, CJ-10 land-attack cruise missile, and CY-5 anti-submarine missile. It’s unclear whether each of these is able to accommodate the big YJ-20 missile. YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missiles, or mockups thereof, are reviewed during the V-Day military parade on September 3, 2025, in Beijing, China.