On December 28, the Chinese Military Channel suddenly released on social media a video showing the Type 055 missile destroyer Wuxi launching a large missile. Compared to the video of the Type 055 missile destroyer launching a hypersonic missile in 2022, this footage is clearer and more comprehensive, with the entire process of the large hypersonic missile emerging from the vertical launch system and quickly igniting and taking off clearly shown. At the same time, the caption on the video by "Chinese Military Channel" reads: "Wuxi, the 10,000-ton destroyer, ship-to-ship missile type test." As in the video released in 2022, the specific model of this missile was still not indicated, which raises a question: Was the hypersonic missile launched by the Type 055 missile destroyer in April 2022 the YJ-21? What about the one launched by the Wuxi ship this time?
Wuxi ship launching YJ-20
In April 2022, when the video of the Type 055 missile destroyer launching a hypersonic missile was released, the outside world generally believed it was the YJ-21, as the air-launched version of the YJ-21 made its debut at the Zhuhai Air Show that year, and China also introduced an export version called YJ-21E. The continuous appearance of two versions of the YJ-21 further led the outside world to believe that the hypersonic missile launched by the Type 055 missile destroyer in April 2022 was the ship-based version of the YJ-21. However, this view has been reversed with the display of several hypersonic missiles at this year's military parade. It can now be confirmed that the hypersonic missile launched by the Type 055 missile destroyer in 2022 and the one launched by the Wuxi ship this time are both the YJ-20.
YJ-20 launched by Type 055 missile destroyer in 2022
This year's military parade showcased five types of hypersonic missiles, including the land-based DF-17, submarine-launched YJ-19, surface ship-launched YJ-17 and YJ-20, and the air-launched YJ-21. Why do we say that the YJ-21 displayed at this year's military parade is the air-launched version? Because this missile is identical in body design to the YJ-21 carried by the H-6K, both using a non-separable head-body design. Its appearance is completely different from the one launched by the Type 055 missile destroyer in 2022, and such a design is actually not suitable for loading and launching from the vertical launch system of a ship.
YJ-20 launched by Wuxi ship
That's why we can speculate that if there is a ship-based version of the YJ-21, it would have been publicly displayed at this year's military parade. However, the only ship-based hypersonic missile displayed at this year's parade was the YJ-17 and YJ-20, so we can draw a conclusion: the YJ-21 does not have a ship-based version, and both the hypersonic missile launched by the Type 055 missile destroyer in 2022 and the one launched by the Wuxi ship this time are the YJ-20. As to why it is not the YJ-17, because the YJ-20 and YJ-17 differ significantly in their body design, and based on the video of the Wuxi ship's launch, it is clear that the missile launched this time is the YJ-20 rather than the YJ-17.
YJ-20 launched by Wuxi ship
The YJ-17 and YJ-20 were both unveiled for the first time at this year's military parade, indicating that they were developed and deployed around the same time. China's simultaneous development of these two ship-based hypersonic missiles is not for competition but due to their different operational characteristics. The YJ-17 uses a typical waverider design, with a flat wedge-shaped nose and a sharp-angled lower surface. This design provides a high lift-to-drag ratio, allowing the YJ-17 to perform "skip" gliding maneuvers at the edge of the atmosphere and change direction hundreds of kilometers laterally, achieving efficient penetration through unpredictable flight paths.
YJ-20 launched by Wuxi ship
The YJ-20 hypersonic missile uses a symmetric double-cone body design. During its flight, it is first propelled by a rocket, then performs double-cone gliding in the near space, forming an M-shaped trajectory to evade interception, and finally dives at over 10 Maches to strike. Overall, the YJ-17 focuses on stronger maneuverability, while the YJ-20 emphasizes faster penetration speed and greater warhead power. In actual combat, the YJ-21 and YJ-20 will work together. These two ship-based hypersonic missiles, both with a range of 1,500 km, will see the YJ-17 block the enemy's interception channels and conduct precise "pointing" strikes, while the YJ-20, with its powerful warhead, achieves a "decisive strike" effect!
Differences in the body design between YJ-20 and YJ-17
It must be pointed out that in previous reports, the YJ series hypersonic missiles were often associated with the Type 055 destroyers. However, the Type 052D destroyers also have an 850 mm large-caliber vertical launch system, meaning that the Type 052D destroyers can also carry YJ series hypersonic missiles. The number of Type 052D and Type 055 destroyers in the Chinese Navy will soon exceed 50, and in actual combat, dozens of Type 052D and Type 055 destroyers will carry hundreds of hypersonic missiles with a range of up to 1,500 km. Just deploying these dozens of destroyers in the Western Pacific, the U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups would not be able to enter! In addition, the YJ-20 also has the capability to attack land targets. A trip by a Type 055 or Type 052D equipped with YJ-20 could make certain countries with bad intentions behave properly, as Australia has experienced.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/7588795366028460586/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.