Chinese sources have reported that a mystery anti-ship hypersonic missile is being tested by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). According to the current information, the prototype hypersonic missile, being developed to increase the firepower of the newest Chinese Type 055 guided missile destroyers, has done successfully land tests. Sources have claimed the new hypersonic missile, known as YJ-XX, will be capable of destroying US warships missile defenses. The YJ-XX is an ultra-high-speed missile, with the range of 1000 km, allegedly capable of penetrating US air defense systems based on Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block 2A and SM-6 Block 1A hit-to-kill interceptor missiles. Notably, the first Type 055 destroyer, Nanchang, made its first public debut during the massive celebrated the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army Navy in Qingdao. The 180-meter long, 20-meter wide Type 055 class is a development of the Type 052D Luyang 3-class guided-missile destroyer but is about a third bigger than the latter. The ship is armed with 112 vertical-launch cells with the ability to fire HQ-9 surface-to-air missiles, Y J-18 anti-ship cruise missiles, and CJ-10 land-attack cruise missiles. There are reports that this vessel also could eventually be equipped with a rail gun. The vessel uses X- and S-band radars, allowing it to track stealthy objects of various sizes. Type 055 with newest anti-ship hypersonic missiles descendants could significantly extend the Chinese Navy range at the central Pacific. In November, China reportedly conducted two tests of a ballistic missile with a hypersonic glide vehicle that U.S. assessments expect to reach initial operating capability around 2020. While Chinese progress in this area surprises no one, the first operational deployment of the weapon will add another weapon to China’s growing anti-access toolkit, posing a dilemma for U.S. military planners in the Pacific. THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ADMITS IT HAS NO ACTUAL DEFENSE AGAINST HYPERSONIC MISSILES FROM RUSSIA AND CHINA.
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