China’s state broadcaster CCTV and the government-backed Global Times on Wednesday showcased the wider deployment of the YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile, releasing footage of a Type 052D destroyer launching the weapon in a promotional trailer for a six-part documentary marking the 99th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army.
The YJ-20 was first unveiled during a military parade in Beijing in September 2025. While the missile had previously been confirmed aboard China’s larger Type 055 guided-missile destroyers, the latest footage marks its first publicly known deployment on a Type 052D destroyer.
China operates about 40 Type 052D destroyers, which form the backbone of its surface fleet and are routinely deployed in the disputed South China Sea and other strategic waters across East Asia.
According to the Global Times, the YJ-20 employs a vertical “cold launch” system, allowing the missile to be ejected from its launch tube before its engine ignites, a method designed to improve operational safety and launch efficiency.
Western and Asian military analysts regard China’s hypersonic missile programme as one of its most significant strategic capabilities. Defence experts say the YJ-20 represents a major advancement over earlier variants, with an estimated range of up to 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) and the ability to strike moving naval targets.
Analysts believe the missile could play a pivotal role in strengthening China’s naval operations in any potential conflict involving Taiwan by enhancing its ability to project power and challenge hostile forces across regional waters.
Hypersonic weapons travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, more than five times the speed of sound, making them extremely difficult for existing missile defence systems to intercept.
In its annual assessment of China’s military modernisation released in December, the Pentagon said Beijing possesses the world’s largest hypersonic missile arsenal and continues to advance the development of both conventional and nuclear-capable hypersonic weapon technologies.
Goodness Anunobi
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