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Are Beijing’s hypersonic anti-ship missiles in Taiwan Strait a warning for US?
Two YJ-21 missiles were on board an H-6K strategic bomber as it took off from an unidentified airfield in PLA video on opening day of drills
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The People’s Liberation Army appears to have deployed its new hypersonic anti-ship missiles during drills around Taiwan on Tuesday, in what analysts said was a signal to the US against any potential interference amid the rising tensions.
Two YJ-21 missiles – also known as Eagle Strike-21 – were visible on board an H-6K strategic bomber seen taking off from an unidentified airfield in a video posted on Tuesday to the PLA Eastern Theatre Command’s official social media account.
The video was released soon after the start of yet another large-scale surprise joint exercise in the waters and airspace to the north, south and east of Taiwan, which a command spokesman described as “a serious warning and powerful deterrent”.
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The YJ-21 hypersonic missile – which has a conical warhead similar to the Russian Kh-47 Kinzhal – has an estimated range of 1,000km to 1,500km (621-932 miles) with an average speed of Mach 6 and a terminal velocity of Mach 10.
No existing anti-missile system is capable of intercepting the YJ-21, which was first deployed as a ship-launched version in 2022 when the PLA released a video of it being fired from a Type 055, its largest and most advanced destroyer.
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The air-launch variation of the YJ-21 made its first public appearance at the Zhuhai air show in November of the same year. It was officially confirmed to have been used in live-fire training in November at the PLA Air Force’s 75th anniversary celebration.
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