MilitaryYJ-21 Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile
Missile Systemconfirmed
The YJ-21 (Eagle Strike 21) is a Chinese ship- and air-launched hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile designed to target high-value naval assets like aircraft carriers. It forms a critical component of China's anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) strategy by providing long-range, high-speed precision strike capabilities. The missile utilizes a maneuverable reentry vehicle to bypass advanced naval air defense systems.
Specifications
| Type | Missile System |
| Origin | China |
| Manufacturer | China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) |
| Introduced | 2022 |
| Status | In service |
| Range | 1000 - 1500 |
| Guidance | Inertial navigation system (INS) with Beidou satellite guidance, active radar homing, and terminal seeker |
| Propulsion | Solid-propellant rocket booster with a hypersonic maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) |
History
The YJ-21 was developed to bolster the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) long-range strike capabilities against carrier strike groups. It was first publicly revealed in April 2022 through video footage showing a test launch from the vertical launch system (VLS) of a Type 055 destroyer. An air-launched variant has also been integrated into the H-6N bomber platform, expanding its operational reach. The missile represents a major milestone in hypersonic weapon deployment, significantly complicating maritime defense planning for adversary navies in the Indo-Pacific region.
Operators
| Country | Quantity | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| China | — | confirmed |
Text adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
