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Parades

China Unveils Ship-Destroying Hypersonic Missile Amid Tensions with the West

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The People's Republic of China is set to unveil a cutting-edge ship-destroying hypersonic missile at a major military parade on Wednesday, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The parade will be attended by world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, as China seeks to deepen its ties with Russia and North Korea in response to increased tensions with the US. The YJ-17 hypersonic missile is expected to be capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 8, or 6,100mph, and has a projected range of 750 miles, making it a significant addition to China's naval arsenal.

Key Takeaways:

  • The YJ-17 hypersonic missile is expected to be unveiled at a major military parade in Beijing, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
  • The missile is designed to be capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 8, or 6,100mph, and has a projected range of 750 miles, allowing it to strike distant naval targets without exposing launch platforms to counter-attacks.
  • The YJ-17 is expected to be carrier-warheads weighing between 600lb and 1,100lb, giving it powerful armour-piercing capabilities.
  • The missile appears to have been designed to penetrate heavily defended warships, including those in regional conflicts, such as with Taiwan.
  • China is one of the world's most prolific developers of hypersonic missiles, with several variants expected to be unveiled at the parade, including the YJ-15 air-launched missile and the YJ-19 and YJ-20 hypersonic missiles.
  • The parade will be attended by world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, as China seeks to deepen its ties with Russia and North Korea.

Statistics:

  • The YJ-17 hypersonic missile is expected to be capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 8, or 6,100mph.
  • The missile has a projected range of 750 miles.
  • China has spent heavily to modernise and upgrade its military, with a focus on developing hypersonic missiles.
  • The YJ-17 is expected to be carrier-warheads weighing between 600lb and 1,100lb.
  • The parade will feature dozens of brigades, tens of thousands of soldiers, and veterans, as well as scores of weapons, including drones and missiles.

Sources:

  • Bloomberg (Tianran Xu, a senior analyst at Open Nuclear Network): "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."
  • Chinese official (Wu Zeke): "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."
  • Xinhua news agency (Russian President Vladimir Putin): "The summit will strengthen the SCO's capacity to respond to contemporary challenges and threats, and consolidate solidarity across the shared Eurasian space."

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