Chinese Navy Showcases Hypersonic Anti-ship Capability Aboard Destroyers
The Chinese Navy’s most numerous class of guided-missile destroyers can launch long-range hypersonic anti-ship missiles, state military media announced this week. A trailer released on Wednesday for a docuseries showcased the launch of a YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile from a People’s Liberation Army Navy Type 052D-class guided-missile destroyer. YJ-20 was previously seen in media highlighting the Type 055-class, the service’s largest surface combatant designed for anti-aircraft warfare and long-range surface strike missions. Before the YJ-20’s debut at the 2025 Chinese military parade in Beijing, the PLAN’s most capable ship-launched anti-ship missiles were the supersonic YJ-12 and YJ-18. With these cruise
A Type 055 launches YJ-20 in an undated photo. PLAN photo The Chinese Navy’s most numerous class of guided-missile destroyers can launch long-range hypersonic anti-ship missiles, state military media announced this week.
A trailer released on Wednesday for a docuseries showcased the launch of a YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile from a People’s Liberation Army Navy Type 052D-class guided-missile destroyer. YJ-20 was previously seen in media highlighting the Type 055-class, the service’s largest surface combatant designed for anti-aircraft warfare and long-range surface strike missions.
Before the YJ-20’s debut at the 2025 Chinese military parade in Beijing, the PLAN’s most capable ship-launched anti-ship missiles were the supersonic YJ-12 and YJ-18. With these cruise missiles, Chinese ships could hold targets at risk at ranges of 270 to 290 nautical miles.
The YJ-20 missiles give Chinese destroyers a striking capability between 600 to 900 miles away, according to a Jane’s report. Its hypersonic design also presents increased difficulty for warships attempting to defend against the missile.
A Type 052D launches YJ-20 in an undated photo. PLAN photo Compared to the advanced systems and large magazine depth of the Type 055, the Type 052D provides a similarly modernized capacity to Chinese naval commanders across the board. These 7,500-ton warships are among the most capable in the PLAN, fielding 64 vertical launch system cells and advanced air defense systems. At least 35 of the class have been constructed, including newer variants with an extended flight deck for additional, and even larger, helicopters.
With the ability to launch the YJ-20 from the Type 052D, and when combined with the existing Type 055 destroyers, Beijing can field a hypersonic maritime strike capability from at least 45 warships. These vessels already compose China’s frontline posture in the Western Pacific. In recent years, the PLAN has sent these guided-missile destroyers on more extensive voyages for activities outside of the first island chain. Their presence has been noted off Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Ship-based hypersonic anti-ship missiles deployed across the Type 052D represent the latest long-range strike development from Beijing, which has invested heavily into these systems to counter American carrier strike groups and other adversarial naval forces.
Aside from these destroyers, China’s hypersonic and ballistic missiles can be launched from the hundreds of launchers under the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force or the bombers of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. These two branches often train with the PLAN in the South China Sea and Taiwan, simulating maritime strikes against notional intervention forces.
