DF-27 and YJ-21: Anatomy of China’s Most Advanced Hypersonic Missiles
China’s most advanced missiles are the DF-27 and the YJ-21, which represent the cutting edge of Beijing’s hypersonic and anti-ship capabilities. These weapons are designed to evade modern defense systems and strike distant, high-value targets across the Indo-Pacific.
Top Advanced Chinese Missiles
DF-27: China’s most advanced operational hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV). It features an extended intercontinental range (tested well beyond 1,500 km) and the ability to carry multiple independently targetable warheads. It is specifically engineered to maneuver at extreme speeds (over Mach 5), making it notoriously difficult for existing ballistic missile defense shields to intercept.
YJ-21 (Eagle Strike 21): A next-generation hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile. Often described as a “carrier killer,” this missile can be launched from Type 055 destroyers or H6K bombers. It cruises at around Mach 6 and accelerates to Mach 10 in its terminal dive, leaving enemy warships with only seconds to react.
DF-17: A highly maneuverable hypersonic boost-glide weapon with a shorter range (1,800 to 2,500 km) compared to the DF-27, serving as the backbone of China’s regional anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) strategy.
Additional Strategic Systems
JL-1 / Jinglei-1: An advanced air-launched, nuclear-capable ballistic missile carried by strategic bombers, giving China a prominent air-based leg to its nuclear triad.
DF-5C: A massive, silo-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) designed for global strategic deterrence and massive nuclear payloads.
