At the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (Zhuhai Air Show 2024), China revealed the YJ-21 (Ying Ji 21 or “Eagle Strike 21”), a hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile that underscores its commitment to advancing cutting-edge military technology. The YJ-21 is a centerpiece of China’s expanding anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) arsenal, designed to challenge naval power projection and deter potential adversaries in strategically sensitive maritime regions.
The YJ-21 represents a convergence of hypersonic technology and precision-guided munitions, offering unprecedented capabilities for engaging high-value maritime targets such as aircraft carrier groups. It is a solid-fueled, two-stage missile with unique aerodynamic and propulsion systems optimized for hypersonic flight.
The missile achieves cruise speeds exceeding Mach 6 during its midcourse phase and reaches terminal velocities up to Mach 10. These hypersonic speeds dramatically reduce the response time available to an adversary’s missile defense systems, making interception exceedingly difficult. The missile’s high-speed trajectory is coupled with a quasi-ballistic flight path, allowing it to execute high-G maneuvers during its terminal approach. This capability ensures precision strikes against moving targets while reducing the effectiveness of enemy interception systems.
Equipped with a sophisticated inertial navigation system (INS) integrated with satellite guidance, the YJ-21 delivers exceptional accuracy over its operational range of approximately 1,500 kilometers. Its warhead options likely include high-explosive or submunitions tailored for maximum damage against large naval platforms. Additionally, its onboard seekers, possibly including dual-band radar and infrared systems, enable target discrimination in contested environments.