Click to see full-size image. (Screengrab/China Military Bugle)
China Military Bugle, an official social media account under the People’s Liberation Army News Media Center, on December 28 showing the successful launch of a YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile.
The state-of-the-art missile was fired from the Type 055 destroyer Wuxi of the People’s Liberation Army Navy during a “finalization test,” according to the outlet.
A finalization test is a term commonly used by Chinese state media to describe the final major trial or evaluation of a weapon system before concluding the design phase and approving it for full-scale production and operational deployment.
The missile struck and destroyed its target during the test, according to China Military Bugle, which noted that this is “the first time an official media report has shown a live YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile being fired from a warship.”
A hypersonic missile believed to be the YJ-20 was first tested by the People’s Navy ahead of its 73rd anniversary in 2022. At the time it was also launched from a Type 055 destroyer. The missile was finally unveiled earlier this year, specifically during China’s V-Day military parade in Beijing on September 3.
The YJ-20 features a biconic aerodynamic configuration. This design allows for maneuverable re-entry after its initial ballistic launch.
Hypersonic missiles travel and maneuver at least five times faster than the speed of sound specifically at low altitudes in the atmosphere, which make them very much impossible to intercept.
Not much is known about the other specifications of the YJ-20, but is generally believed to have a range of 1,000-1,500 kilometers which makes it one of the longest range anti-ship missiles ever made.
When the YJ-20 will enter service, China will become the second country in the world to operate hypersonic anti-ship missiles after Russia, which has already fielded the 3M22 Zircon, a cruise missile capable of reaching nine times the speed of sound with a range of 1,000 kilometers.
The Chinese successful test shows how the West, including the United States, are still lagging behind when it comes to hypersonic weapons in general.
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who cares? they will never use it for anything but to further the zionist agenda.
just like every other zionist controlled state.
yes, china is pro israel too.
no they’re not.
active combat is reported on several fronts. south of vilcha, russian units are advancing; west of liman, they captured five strong points…………………… https://ln.run/iemhw
uss trump is obsolete now 😂
so four countries now have hypersonic missile technology. russia, china, iran and north korea. notice that none of these countries are in the west or western oriented. the west has lost the arms race by a knockout.