In 2022, an unidentified hypersonic missile was revealed by the Chinese Navy ahead of its 73rd anniversary, launching from a universal vertical launch system of theType 055 destroyer. The Chinese Navy did not reveal the missile's designation, but defense analysts at that time believed it to be the ship-launched version of theYJ-21.[3][4] However, with the emergence of the YJ-20 hypersonic missile in 2025, which has a more closely aligned shape to the unidentified missile launched by Type 055, analysts believed these were two separate missile developments.[5][6][7]
The YJ-20 is a hypersonic[8][9]anti-ship ballistic missile, featuring a biconic aerodynamic configuration. The configuration allows for manoeuvrablere-entry after its initial ballistic launch.[10][11] The missile can be launched from surface vessals.[12]
