Why in news?
Photographs of China’s advanced Type 055 destroyers surfaced in December 2025 showing what analysts believe to be the YJ‑20 hypersonic anti‑ship missile. The images fuelled discussion about a new class of long‑range weapons in China’s arsenal and their implications for naval security in the Indo‑Pacific.
Background
The YJ‑20, or “Eagle Strike‑20”, is a hypersonic aero‑ballistic missile reportedly designed to destroy high‑value naval assets. Unlike conventional ballistic missiles that follow predictable parabolic trajectories, hypersonic missiles can travel at speeds above Mach 5 and manoeuvre unpredictably, making them difficult to intercept.
Characteristics
- Speed and range: Analysts estimate the YJ‑20 can exceed Mach 6, possibly reaching Mach 9 during terminal flight. Its range is thought to be around 1,000 to 1,500 kilometres, enabling strikes well beyond the first island chain.
- Flight path: The missile likely employs a skip‑glide or quasi‑ballistic trajectory. After launch it coasts and skips along the upper atmosphere before diving toward its target at hypersonic speed. This path complicates enemy radar tracking and missile‑defence calculations.
- Guidance: It is believed to use satellite navigation with mid‑course updates and an active radar or infrared seeker for terminal guidance, allowing it to adjust course and home in on moving ships.
- Targets: The YJ‑20 is part of China’s anti‑access/area‑denial strategy, intended to threaten aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships and potentially land targets. Its deployment could shift the naval balance in the Western Pacific.
Conclusion
While details about the YJ‑20 remain limited, its reported capabilities underline the rapid evolution of hypersonic weapons. Navies in the region will need to develop countermeasures and adapt strategies to address the challenges posed by these manoeuvrable, high‑speed missiles.
Source: Times of India
