YJ-21 Missile

YJ-21 Missile Latest News

Footage released by Chinese state media recently has for the first time shown the launch of a YJ-21 anti-ship ballistic missile by a Chinese People’s Liberation Army H-6K bomber, eight years after the missile was unveiled.

About YJ-21 Missile

• The YJ-21, also known as the Eagle Strike 21, is a Chinese hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile.  
• It is designed for striking large, high-value naval targets, such as aircraft carriers. 
• It entered service in 2022. 
• Initially deployed on naval platforms, a bomber-launched variant was revealed in May 2024, significantly extending its operational reach.  

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YJ-21 Missile Features

• 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.  
• It has a maximum range of approximately 1,500 km.
• 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. 
• It uses an inertial navigation system (INS) as well as an active radar-homing or infrared terminal-state seeker.

News: MWM