China to Unveil Ship-Killing Hypersonic Missile at Military Parade Amid Tensions with West

Strategic Insights -

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to give a speech at the parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, while tens of thousands of soldiers will march through Tiananmen Square. The military parade, which will take place days after a meeting of world leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), is expected to showcase a range of new missiles, including the soon-to-be-unveiled YJ-17 hypersonic missile, capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 8 (6,100mph) and striking distant naval targets without exposing launch platforms to counterattacks. The parade is a major event for China, with President Xi seeking to deepen ties with Russia and North Korea against the backdrop of raised tensions with the US.

Key Takeaways:

  • The YJ-17 hypersonic missile is expected to have a range of 750 miles, allowing it to strike distant naval targets without exposing launch platforms to counterattacks.
  • The missile has the potential to carry warheads weighing 600lb to 1,100lb, giving it powerful armour-piercing capabilities.
  • The missile is likely designed to penetrate heavily defended warships, with the aim of suppressing the US Navy in the Western Pacific.
  • China is one of the world's most prolific developers of hypersonic missiles, designed to evade traditional air defence systems.
  • The US and China are locked in an arms race to develop powerful hypersonic missiles, as is Russia, which has used them against Ukraine last year.
  • The military parade will feature new tanks, fighter jets, and drones, in addition to the range of new missiles, including the YJ-17 hypersonic missile.
  • The parade is expected to be attended by over 20 leaders, including Iranian and Turkish presidents Masoud Pezeshkian and Recep Tayyip Erdogan respectively.
  • China is spending heavily to modernise and upgrade its military, with President Xi seeking to deepen ties with Russia and North Korea.

Statistics:

  • The YJ-17 hypersonic missile is capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 8 (6,100mph).
  • The missile has a projected range of 750 miles.
  • China has developed a range of anti-ship missiles that cover all imaginable categories.
  • The US and China are locked in an arms race to develop powerful hypersonic missiles, with Russia also developing such missiles.

Sources:

  • Wu Zeke, an official helping organise the military parade, said: "The weapons and equipment on display this time were all selected from major battle equipment that is domestically produced and is currently in service, with a large proportion being new types of equipment making their debut" [1].
  • Tianran Xu, a senior analyst at Open Nuclear Network, told Bloomberg: "Few countries have developed so many anti-ship missiles that cover all imaginable categories" [2].
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin told China's Xinhua news agency: "All this will help shape a fairer multipolar world order" [3].
  • The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was founded in 2001 [4].