YJ-21 Missile: China’s Hypersonic ‘Warship Killer’ Is 6X The Speed of Sound

Last Updated:September 04, 2025, 11:59 IST

The YJ-21 fits PLAN’s new HT-1E Universal VLS, enabling deployment from islands and boosting strike flexibility for China’s surface task forces across air and sea domains

YJ-21 is part of China’s vast military ecosystem of submarines, jets, warships and satellites. (News18 Hindi)

China unveiled the YJ-21 missile at its Victory Day (V-Day) military parade, showcasing its hypersonic strike capability. The YJ-21, known as China’s ‘killer missile’, travels six times faster than the speed of sound, rendering enemy air defence systems ineffective.

Alongside the YJ-21, the DF-17 and DF-26D missiles were also featured, highlighting China’s advancements in hypersonic technology.

Capable Of Launching Strikes From Both Air And Sea

The YJ-21 missile stands out due to its ballistic flight path, which enables it to leave the atmosphere before re-entering at speeds of Mach 6 to Mach 7.

This trajectory boosts its range and terminal speed, allowing it to penetrate enemy air defences. The missile can be launched from Chinese warships and bomber aircraft, specifically the PLA Air Force’s H-6K and H-6N bombers, making it capable of targeting high-value assets like enemy aircraft carriers.

Evolution Of The YJ-21: From DF-21D To Hypersonic Capability

Experts suggest that the YJ-21 is an advanced version of the DF-21D Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM), which was operationalised in 2010 and initially dubbed a ‘carrier killer’. China has enhanced this technology, integrating hypersonic capabilities into the YJ-21.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) views this missile as part of its broader A2/AD (Anti-Access/Area Denial) strategy, aimed at keeping adversary fleets, including US carrier strike groups, away from China’s coastline and areas of interest.

Comprehensive Weapons Exhibition: From Space To Sea

The YJ-21 is part of China’s expansive military ecosystem, which includes nuclear and diesel submarines, fighter jets, surface warships, and satellite networks. The PLA aims to encircle the enemy at sea by integrating these assets.

Estimated Specifications Of The YJ-21

Though technical details are closely guarded, defence analysts estimate the following:

• Speed: Mach 6 to Mach 10
• Range: 1,200 to 1,500 km
• Warhead: High-explosive, with unclear nuclear capability
• Guidance: INS + Active Radar or Infrared Seeker
• Length: 7-9 meters
• Weight: About 2000 kg
• Launch platform: Type 055 destroyer, Type 054B frigate, H-6N bomber

The YJ-21 can be deployed in PLAN’s new Universal VLS (Vertical Launch System) HT-1E, allowing for use on island-based platforms and flexibility for China’s surface task forces.

Implications For India And The US

The introduction of the YJ-21 raises significant concerns for India and the United States. India is developing hypersonic projects like Brahmos-II, but China has already deployed such technology. In the Indo-Pacific region, the YJ-21 poses a direct threat to the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers and large warships. For the US, the missile targets carrier groups, challenging defence systems like the US Navy’s SM-6 to intercept missiles travelling at hypersonic speeds.

Location :

China

First Published:

September 04, 2025, 11:59 IST

News world YJ-21 Missile: China’s Hypersonic ‘Warship Killer’ Is 6X The Speed of Sound

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