China's military has unveiled its longest-range missile, the YJ-20, which appears to be nearing mass production. A video shows its final testing phase, with crew reporting over radio, “Missile hit. Target destroyed.” The footage reveals no details on the time, location, or target.
A recently released video by China's military showcases the final testing phase of the YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile, dubbed the “carrier killer.” In the footage, crew members report over the radio, “Missile hit. Target destroyed,” though the target itself is not shown, nor are any details about it provided. This test, termed the “missile finalisation test,” is the crucial evaluation to confirm that the design meets all operational requirements, paving the way for official approval of mass production and deployment. However, the video does not specify the time or location of the test.
Previous videos from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) have appeared to feature the YJ-20. In 2022, footage showed what seemed to be the same model launching from a Type 055 destroyer. A similar launch was observed in a 2024 video. Neither was officially identified as the YJ-20.
The YJ-20 is part of China's hypersonic anti-ship missile efforts, potentially linked to projects like the HALO development programme and comparisons with the YJ-15 or Russia's Eagle Strike-20. It may target systems like the US Navy's Aegis. Keywords reference Victory Day, the Type 055 destroyer Wuxi, and Beijing, but the video content does not elaborate on these contexts.
