TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China’s Type 052D guided-missile destroyers can now launch long-range YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missiles, the USNI News reported Friday.
Chinese state military media released footage showing a YJ-20 missile launched from a Type 052D guided-missile destroyer. The missile had previously been shown aboard China’s larger and more heavily armed Type 055 destroyers.
Reuters reported that the YJ-20 has an estimated range of about 965 to 1,450 kilometers. Its high speed and unusual flight path could make it more difficult for warships to detect, track, and intercept.
China has built at least 35 Type 052D destroyers, and each ship carries 64 vertical missile launch cells. Combined with the Type 055 fleet, China could deploy ship-based hypersonic weapons on at least 45 warships, per Australian Naval Institute.
Beijing has invested heavily in long-range missiles designed to challenge US aircraft carriers and other naval forces. China can also launch hypersonic and ballistic missiles from land-based systems and military aircraft during operations involving its navy.
Navy Times reported that the expansion comes as the US Navy faces delays in installing hypersonic missiles on its three Zumwalt-class destroyers. The US Government Accountability Office said the program is two years behind schedule, and missile flight testing planned for 2025 has been postponed until 2027.
The Navy selected the Conventional Prompt Strike missile for the Zumwalt class after rising costs and technical concerns reduced the destroyer program from 32 ships to three. The weapon uses a rocket booster to carry a high-speed gliding warhead toward targets thousands of kilometers away.
Navy Times said modifying the ships has required more time and money than expected. Problems include additional cabling work, unreliable power systems, expensive ship-specific equipment, and difficulty obtaining spare parts.
Missile production has also faced problems with heat-resistant coatings, faulty parts, limited factory capacity, and instructions that are too complex for some workers. The factory can produce only six or seven missiles a year, below the planned rate of 12.
The estimated program cost has increased from about NT$1 trillion (US$31 billion) for 262 missiles to NT$1.33 trillion for 224 missiles. Government auditors also warned that poor coordination between the US Navy and Army could cause further delays.
