A cold launch, a near-vertical strike profile, and a 10,000-ton warship beneath it. China has finally shown how the YJ-20 leaves the deck.
Chinese state media has released the first official footage showing a YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile being launched from a frontline warship, offering a rare look at a weapon system that analysts say could significantly complicate naval missile defense .
The video shows the missile being fired from a Type 055 destroyer, the Wuxi, during what was described as a “finalization test,” a term commonly used in China to indicate a system’s last major trial before entering production or wider deployment. According to the footage, the missile struck and destroyed its target.The release marks the first time Chinese official media has shown a live firing of the YJ-20 from a warship, signaling that the missile may be nearing operational service with the PLA Navy. China Military Bugle, an official account under the PLA News Media Center, released the footage. Reporting and expert commentary were later published by the Global Times.First public look at ship-launched YJ-20The video, aired Sunday, captures multiple camera angles of the missile launch from the aft section of the Type 055 destroyer. The YJ-20 was fired from a vertical launching system cell using a cold-launch method, meaning the missile was ejected from the launcher before its engine ignited.Chinese media described the test as a finalization trial, a step that typically precedes a weapon system’s transition into mass production or active service. The missile was shown successfully hitting its target, though no additional details about the range or test conditions were disclosed.An official Chinese media account China Military Bugle on Sunday unveiled the moment when a YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile was launched from a Type 055 large destroyer of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy. It shows the finalization test of a ship-to-ship missile… pic.twitter.com/Iq00Ek1kS3— Global Times December 28, 2025The YJ-20 was first publicly unveiled during China’s Victory Day military parade in Beijing on September 3, alongside other anti-ship and hypersonic missiles, including the YJ-15, YJ-17, and YJ-19. That parade, previously covered by Interesting Engineering, highlighted Beijing’s growing emphasis on long-range and hypersonic strike capabilities.Hypersonic design and attack profileChinese military affairs expert Zhang Junshe, speaking to the Global Times, described the YJ-20 as a maneuverable hypersonic missile capable of exceeding Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. Based on its appearance, Zhang said the missile appears to be a boost-glide system composed of a rocket booster and a bicone glide vehicle.According to Zhang, the bicone shape generates shock waves during hypersonic flight, allowing the missile’s control surfaces to maneuver during its terminal phase. This capability, combined with its speed, is intended to improve the missile’s ability to penetrate missile defense systems.Zhang added that the YJ-20 can strike surface targets from a near-vertical angle, similar to a ballistic missile, making interception more difficult for ship-based air defense systems. Chinese state media have previously said the missile can be launched from multiple platforms, including surface vessels, submarines, and aircraft.Hypersonic strike missiles YJ-20 pass through Tian’anmen Square during the V-Day military parade on September 3, 2025, in Beijing, China. – GettyRole of the Type 055 destroyerThe Type 055 destroyer is the PLA Navy’s largest surface combatant and is widely regarded as a central platform for air defense, anti-ship warfare, and fleet command operations. Displacing around 10,000 tons, the class is designed to operate as part of carrier strike groups or independent task forces.According to Zhang, deploying the YJ-20 from Type 055 destroyers would allow the PLA Navy to conduct operations farther from China’s coastline, enhancing what he described as China’s “far seas” combat capability and expanding its overall defense depth.While Chinese authorities have not formally confirmed the missile’s operational status, the public release of launch footage suggests the YJ-20 is moving closer to frontline deployment, marking another step in China’s ongoing development of hypersonic naval strike systems.
Boost-Glide Missile Chinese Military Defense &Amp Military Hypersonic Missiles Hypersonic Weapons Military Technology Missile Defense Naval Deterrence Naval Warfare PLA Navy Type 055 Destroyer Vertical Launch System YJ-20 Missile
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