China launched a YJ-20 hypersonic missile from a Type 055 destroyer.
The Chinese Navy has for the first time released video of the YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile being tested from a vertical launch system on a Type 055 stealth destroyer.
China Military Bugle, the official media channel of the PLA News Media Center, has just released a video documenting the final test of the YJ-20 hypersonic missile. The test was conducted on the Type 055 destroyer Wuxi, marking the completion of testing before the weapon enters mass production.
Launch technology and combat capabilities
Footage from the video shows the YJ-20 missile being deployed from a vertical launch system (VLS) at the stern of the Wuxi warship. The missile uses a cold launch method, being ejected from the launch tube before the main engine activates. Chinese military media confirmed that the missile struck and destroyed the simulated target.
This is the first time images of the YJ-20 being launched from a warship have been widely publicized. Previously, the YJ-20 appeared at the Victory Day parade in Beijing on September 3, 2025, along with other anti-ship missile variants: the YJ-15, YJ-19, and YJ-17. These missile variants are designed for multi-platform deployment, from carrier-based fighter jets to surface ships and submarines.
Technical specifications of YJ-20
According to military expert Zhang Jun She, the YJ-20 is capable of maneuvering at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound). Technically, it is a booster-glide missile, consisting of a booster stage and a glide vehicle with a twin-conical warhead. This design allows for flexible air-driven control during the final phase of its supersonic flight, increasing its ability to penetrate modern defense systems.
Zhang further analyzed that the YJ-20 can attack targets at sea at an almost vertical angle, similar to the trajectory of a ballistic missile. Its hypersonic speed combined with the tricky angle of attack makes this weapon extremely difficult to intercept.
Strategic importance
Equipping Type 055 destroyers with the YJ-20 hypersonic missile is considered a significant step forward for the PLA Navy. This weapon system not only enhances combat capabilities in distant seas but also expands the range of firepower deployment and strengthens China's defensive depth.
