Latest news with #YJ-17
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
All The New Chinese Missiles Spotted During Its Massive Military Parade Rehearsal
China's huge upcoming military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the country's victory over Japan in World War II is shaping up to be the most significant showcase of new capabilities in years. TWZ has previously reported on a number of new air combat drone designs that will make their official debut at the event, but a bevy of previously unseen missiles has also been capturing particular attention. A massive burst of imagery of parade preparations, which have been ongoing for weeks now, began circulating online over the weekend. The parade itself is scheduled to take place in Beijing on Sept. 3. One quartet of missiles seen amid the parade preparations – with the designations YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20 – has been especially eye-catching. The exact target sets these missiles are intended to engage are unclear, as are their launch modes. China has historically applied YJ designators to anti-ship and/or land attack cruise missiles that can be fired from aircraft, surface warships, submarines, and/or ground-based launchers. Various new missiles (ship UVLS launch?) confirmed, my 2c on roles:– YJ-15, ramjet compact supersonic?– YJ-17, waverider hypersonic glide?– YJ-19, ?maybe scramjet hypersonic?– YJ-20, biconical hypersonic/aeroballistic? Possibly seen before from REautomaton, SDF — Rick Joe (@RickJoe_PLA) August 17, 2025 The YJ-15 looks to be a new ramjet-powered design with a layout that is similar in very broad strokes to the existing YJ-12. The YJ-12 is a supersonic anti-ship cruise missile that can be air, sea, and ground-launched. The YJ-12 is itself at least externally reminiscent of the Soviet-era Kh-31. The YJ-12's manufacturer, state-run China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), has said in the past that at least the export version, called the CM-302, also has a secondary land-attack capability. The shaping of the nose on the YJ-17 points first and foremost to a design capable of reaching hypersonic speeds, defined as anything above Mach 5. This may be a 'waverider' type missile that 'skips' on top of the shockwaves produced during high-speed flight to gain additional lift. There has been some discussion about whether the front end of the YJ-17 might actually be an unpowered hypersonic boost-glide vehicle that detaches after launch, despite the 'cruise missile' designation, based on the lack of a clearly obvious air intake. Unlike air-breathing hypersonic cruise missiles, a boost-glide vehicle uses a booster to reach an optimal speed and altitude before descending back down to its target along a relatively shallow, atmospheric flight path to its target, all while maneuvering erratically along the way. The combination of this flight profile and very high speed presents particular challenges for defending forces. However, a very narrow slit inlet may be present in some of the images of this particular missile that have emerged so far. Air-breathing hypersonic cruise missiles also generally use a rocket booster to get up to sufficient speed for their ramjet/scramjet engines to take over. In contrast to the YJ-17, the YJ-19 does have a very visible air intake under the nose. Its overall configuration also aligns with other known high supersonic and hypersonic missiles powered by advanced ramjet or scramjet engines. Outwardly at least, the YJ-20 looks to have a relatively traditional multi-stage ballistic design. The missile aligns well with a mysterious missile seen being fired from what was said to be a Type 055 destroyer in a video that appeared online in 2022. That weapon has also been referred to as the YJ-21 in the intervening years, though that designation does not seem to have ever been confirmed. Rick Joe, a long-time tracker of Chinese military developments, has also noted that the YJ-20 has similarities to a missile design previously seen in renders associated with a triple-pack insert for a maritime vertical launch system (VLS). That VLS, in turn, may be primarily intended for use on submarines, especially the future Type 095 (also written Type 09V), though it could also potentially be installed on surface warships with sufficient internal space. Now that we see YJ-20 clearly and know its name, one is reminded of these again…IYKYK — Rick Joe (@RickJoe_PLA) August 17, 2025 Collectively, the YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20 point to a significant boost in the Chinese People's Liberation Army's high-speed strike capabilities, especially in the maritime domain. In addition to presenting complications for defending forces, hypersonic missiles simply offer a way to close a kill chain faster, making them especially well-suited for use against time-sensitive targets. A number of other missiles without clearly visible designations have been seen as part of the ongoing parade preparations, a number of which may also be previously unseen designs. Some of the imagery available shows very large transporter vehicles, some of which are clearly seen carrying equally large missile canisters, but that do not readily align with known Chinese designs. This prompted talk about whether a new intercontinental ballistic missile or another type of long-range ballistic missile is set to be unveiled. 3/9 Parade : 11 (?) missiles from PLARF this year — luritie (@luritie) August 16, 2025 Experts and observers have noted that at least one of the vehicles looks to be designed to load ICBMs into silos, rather than fire them, based on a lack of key features and the shaping of the missile canister it carries. China has exponentially increased the number of ICBM silos it has in recent years, though it is unclear if each one holds a missile, or is even intended to. A 'shell game' involving loaded and unloaded silos mixed together presents targeting challenges for opponents, as you can read more about here. The vehicle has no gas generator and the canister itself is somewhat short. Very likely this is the DF-31 silo loader. — Decker Eveleth (@dex_eve) August 16, 2025 What may be a stealthy ground-launched cruise missile, based on its angular shaping and green paint job, has also been seen in the convoys taking part in the parade preparations. Its general configuration points to a design analogous to the U.S. Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missile (TLAM). The grainy picture of this missile available now limits what else can be gleaned about the design so far. Not sure if this one was already posted besides all the other fancy stuff … looks like a new cruise missile (most likely a land-attack system) and maybe also as a stealthy KD-20/20A replacement? — @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) August 19, 2025 The PLA Rocket Force's (PLARF) commitment to a new seemingly subsonic ground-launched land-attack cruise missile is a notable development given the strikingly modest scale at which the CJ-10 and CJ-10A cruise missiles are understood to have been the… — Shahryar Pasandideh (@shahpas) August 16, 2025 Air and missile defense interceptors also look set to be a major element of the upcoming parade, though less imagery of them has emerged from the preparations so far. From what has been seen so far, the HQ-11, HQ-16, and HQ-19, all of which have been previously disclosed, could be among the systems on display next month. PLA Unknown Air Defense Convoy | BeijingHQ-11(?)HQ-16(?)HQ-19(?)HQ-26(?)HQ-29(?)HQ-32(?) — David Wang (@Nickatgreat1220) August 16, 2025 Anticipation has already been growing for weeks now about the potential for an official reveal of a new high-end anti-ballistic missile system, often referred to now (and apparently unofficially) as the HQ-29. Past sightings of what could be an associated six-axle transporter-erector-launcher point to a very large interceptor, which could be capable of mid-course intercept attempts against ballistic missiles traveling outside the Earth's atmosphere. An image purportedly depicting China's HQ-29 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) System has emerged. The photo features:• One Transport Erector Launcher (TEL)• One Radar Mast• One Command Vehicle• One Power Unit/Logistical Support vehicleThe HQ-29 system is anticipated to be… — OSINTWarfare (@OSINTWarfare) August 8, 2025 There has also been talk about a possible debut of another anti-ballistic missile system that has been referred to as the HQ-26. Past reports have suggested this system could offer equivalent exo-atmospheric intercept capability to the U.S. Standard Missile-3 (SM-3). What looks to be a long-range surface-to-air missile system, designated the HQ-20, which does not appear to have been previously disclosed, has also been spotted. The eight-wheeled TEL for this system can carry at least eight interceptors at a time. The TEL also looks similar to the one used in the HQ-9 system, which is analogous to the Soviet-designed S-300, but the HQ-20's interceptors are notably smaller. A broadly similar dichotomy is notably seen in the size of PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptors for the U.S. Patriot surface-to-air missile system. 3/9 Parade: PLA HQ-20 SAM — luritie (@luritie) August 19, 2025 As TWZ noted in our previous report about the new drones set to be showcased at the upcoming parade in Beijing, a wide array of materiel, including new heavy armored vehicles and uncrewed underwater vehicles, have also been spotted as the preparations continue. There will be a flyover component, where additional surprises may emerge, as well. Overall, what we've seen already is clearly intended to highlight China's progress in modernizing its armed forces across the board, and send signals to opponents both regionally and globally. In addition, as we have stressed before, some of what will be shown at the parade could be aspirational. At the same time, even the mock-ups that China has shown at top-level national events like this in the past have often reflected very real developments. In terms of missiles, the DF-17, a hypersonic boost-glide vehicle design that was first shown publicly in mock-up form at another major parade in 2019, is a prime example of this. More and more about the full breadth of missiles and other capabilities that will be on display at the parade is likely to be revealed as it gets closer to the actual event. Contact the author: joe@
News18
a day ago
- News18
China's ‘Never-Seen-Before' Missiles Close Kill Chain Faster? To Unveil YJ At Military Parade?
China's military parade on September 3 promises the most significant display of advanced capabilities in years, featuring new drones and previously unseen missiles, including YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20. These missiles, capable of air, sea, submarine, or ground launches, enhance China's high-speed strike potential, particularly in maritime operations. YJ-17 may feature a hypersonic boost-glide or air-breathing design, while YJ-19 uses ramjet/scramjet propulsion. YJ-20 resembles a multi-stage ballistic missile. The display highlights China's growing missile sophistication, posing serious challenges to defense systems. 00:00 - INTRODUCTION01.17 - DECODING CHINA'S 'MYSTERY' MISSILESn18oc_world n18oc_crux
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
China's U.S. Warship-killer Missiles Rise As Trump Gets Busy With Ending Russia's War
China is set to reveal four new advanced missiles capable of sinking U.S. warships, raising tensions in the Western Pacific. The YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20 missiles were spotted in parade rehearsals ahead of the official military display on September 3 in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, marking the 80th anniversary of China's WWII 'victory.' Analysts say these missiles could serve dual roles in anti-ship and land-attack strikes, with the YJ-17 and YJ-19 being hypersonic and highly maneuverable. The development highlights China's rapid military modernisation and growing challenge to U.S. naval dominance. Watch.#ChinaMissiles #USNavy #HypersonicWeapons #YJ15 #YJ17 #YJ19 #YJ20 #WesternPacific #ChinaMilitary #NavalDominance
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Inside Beijing's military parade: From laser tanks to hypersonic missiles
Beijing's military parade rehearsal showed new hypersonic missiles, drones, laser tanks, and advanced armoured vehicles, highlighting China's growing high-tech military power New Delhi Over the weekend, Beijing residents witnessed a rare display of China's newest military technology during rehearsals for a major parade. Videos and photos shared online revealed advanced weaponry being moved through the city, including hypersonic missiles, a road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), drones, unmanned vehicles, and even a large laser weapon, according to a report by South China Morning Post. The parade, scheduled for September 3 in Tiananmen Square, will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Around 40,000 military personnel took part in the latest rehearsal, which ran from Saturday evening into Sunday morning. It was the second large-scale practice, following a smaller one the previous weekend, the news report said. Hypersonic missiles on display One of the most eye-catching developments was the appearance of new anti-ship missiles from the YJ series. The YJ-15 was spotted, along with three missiles believed to be hypersonic: the YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20. • The YJ-17 appears to include a hypersonic glide vehicle, similar to the DF-17, China's first missile of this type. • The YJ-19 looks similar to Russia's Zircon hypersonic cruise missile and may use scramjet technology. • The YJ-20 features a biconic shape, suggesting it could be a manoeuvrable re-entry vehicle. These sightings indicate China is advancing rapidly in hypersonic weapons technology, a field that has drawn global attention for its ability to evade traditional defence systems. Possible new ICBM system Another image from the rehearsal showed a massive transporter-erector-launcher vehicle carrying a large missile canister under a tarp. Its unique single-side cab design suggests it may be a new road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile system, either recently developed or an upgraded version of an older one, the news report said. Unmanned underwater vehicles Two extra-large unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) were also seen. One of them, the AJX002, resembles a torpedo and measures about 18 to 20 metres long. It uses pump jet propulsion, much like Russia's Poseidon nuclear torpedo. However, it is unclear whether the Chinese version is nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed. Next-generation armoured vehicles The People's Liberation Army (PLA) also showcased a new light tank, which is smaller than the Type 99A main battle tank. The vehicle is fitted with advanced features such as: • A four-sided radar • Active protection systems • A laser weapon and air defence gun • A 105mm main gun mounted on an unmanned turret Crew members were seen wearing helmets with augmented and virtual reality displays, as well as smartwatches, pointing to the integration of human and unmanned systems in these tanks. Alongside the tanks, new armoured infantry fighting vehicles, fire support vehicles, airborne vehicles, and mobile mortars were also seen. Drones and unmanned systems China's expanding use of unmanned systems was also visible in the rehearsal. A wide range of drones and unmanned ground vehicles were transported, reflecting the PLA's emphasis on automation and next-generation warfare, the news report said. China's message to the world A Chinese military spokesman earlier stressed that all the weapons shown in the parade would be 'domestically produced and in service", according to the news report. The official added that the showcase highlights the PLA's ability to adapt to new technologies, modern forms of warfare, and the goal of winning future conflicts.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
China To Reveal New Weapons To Sink US Ships
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. China is expected to officially reveal four new missiles designed to sink enemy warships during an upcoming military parade, as part of its efforts to challenge United States naval dominance. Newsweek has contacted the Pentagon and China's Foreign Ministry for comment via email. Why It Matters The military parade is scheduled for September 3 in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, marking the 80th anniversary of what China calls the "victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War," its term for World War II. China, undergoing a rapid military buildup and modernization, has built a large long-range missile arsenal capable of targeting U.S. forces and bases across the Western Pacific region. Missiles are central to China's anti-access and area denial strategy, which seeks to prevent or restrict an enemy from entering and operating in a given area, serving as a countermeasure against possible U.S. intervention in a potential conflict over Taiwan or the South China Sea. What To Know The second "comprehensive rehearsal" for the upcoming Chinese military parade—expected to reveal new weapons—was held from Saturday evening to early Sunday morning local time, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported, and involved about 40,000 participants. Photos circulated on social media show new missiles marked YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20 being carried by vehicles during the rehearsal. "YJ" is the abbreviation of Ying Ji, meaning "Eagle Strike" in Chinese, and is used for a range of Chinese anti-ship missiles, which can be launched from ships or aircraft. Various new missiles (ship UVLS launch?) confirmed, my 2c on roles: - YJ-15, ramjet compact supersonic? - YJ-17, waverider hypersonic glide? - YJ-19, ?maybe scramjet hypersonic? - YJ-20, biconical hypersonic/aeroballistic? Possibly seen before from 055.. Via REautomaton, SDF — Rick Joe (@RickJoe_PLA) August 17, 2025 Rick Joe, a longtime observer of Chinese military developments, suggested that the YJ-15 could be a supersonic missile, flying faster than the speed of sound—768 miles per hour. The YJ-17 and YJ-19 could be hypersonic missiles, capable of flying over five times the speed of sound and maneuvering in flight, making them difficult to intercept. Joe suggested the YJ-20 could be a highly maneuverable aeroballistic missile. According to the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, this type of hypersonic missile can be launched from different platforms and combines aerodynamic maneuvers with ballistic loft phases to extend its range. In addition to their supposed ship-sinking role, these missiles could plausibly serve a dual role in both anti-ship and land-attack strikes, Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck noted. Threats To US Navy The reveal of the new Chinese anti-ship missiles will come after the U.S. used a significant portion of its missile interceptors defending Israel against Iran's missile attacks in June, as well as during earlier Red Sea operations against Yemen's Houthi attacks on vessels. "American operations in the Red Sea and elsewhere have shown good intercept capability against threats presented," Luck told Newsweek. "However, the Chinese capabilities may be both more sophisticated and draw on deeper stockpiles [of U.S. missile interceptors]." Chinese military vehicles carry YJ anti-ship cruise missiles during a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on September 3, 2015. Chinese military vehicles carry YJ anti-ship cruise missiles during a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on September 3, 2015. Ng Han Guan/AP Photo According to Luck, China already operates a wide range of anti-ship missiles, deployed on smaller vessels like missile boats, corvettes, and frigates, as well as larger, newer destroyers. It therefore makes sense to develop successor designs to replace various legacy weapons. Meanwhile, developing different types of missiles can enhance China's threat posture against enemy warships by overwhelming and complicating their anti-missile defenses, allowing what he described as "leakers" to get through and hit their targets, such as aircraft carriers. A Chinese military observer, who requested anonymity because of the topic's sensitivity, told Newsweek that the new missiles reflect China's view of U.S. defense capabilities, suggesting it has moved away from relying on low-observable technology for penetration. Low-observable technology, also known as stealth, is used to make missiles harder to detect. The observer said the U.S. Navy has equipped its warships with advanced air defense sensors capable of detecting slow-flying, low-observable missiles, enabling interceptions. In comparison, supersonic and hypersonic missiles are preferred by China for penetrating American ship-based defense systems, as they are difficult to intercept even if detected. The United States Navy destroyer USS Bulkeley launches a Standard Missile-3 interceptor to intercept a ballistic missile target in the North Atlantic Ocean on May 20, 2025. The United States Navy destroyer USS Bulkeley launches a Standard Missile-3 interceptor to intercept a ballistic missile target in the North Atlantic Ocean on May 20, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan Nye/U.S. Navy What People Are Saying Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck told Newsweek: "The [Chinese] missile threat is comprehensive and long-established. The [U.S. Navy] takes this threat very seriously, and is in the process of addressing it through a variety of means, both in terms of missile defense, but also intercepting or neutralizing carrier platforms and launchers by offensive means." Tom Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told Newsweek: "While we know very little about what in this case looks like a new series of air-launched air-to-surface missiles, it could be that China is developing this suite of air-to-surface missiles at least in part to go with its growing fleet of aircraft carriers." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether Chinese authorities will reveal details of the new anti-ship missiles during the military parade, including payload, speed, range and launch platforms.
