SCMP: China tests weapons suspected to be hypersonic missiles used to destroy warships
The moment the YJ-21 anti-ship missile leaves the launch pad on the Type 055 destroyer – Photo taken from the clip
According to SCMP, a video went viral on the largest social network in China Weibo on April 20 showed a missile that looked like a YJ-21 launched from a Type 055 guided-missile destroyer of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
This appears to be the first video of the YJ-21 hypersonic missile. China’s Ministry of National Defense has not yet commented on the video.
Military analysts say the PLA’s rare hypersonic missile test may be in response to recent US moves towards Taiwan.
“The combination of the Type 055 and the YJ-21 missile, which was designed for anti-infiltration and access (China’s near seas – PV) missions, is aimed at countering US maritime dominance in the region. “- SCMP quoted Chinese naval expert Li Jie as saying.
The YJ-21 is estimated to have a range of 1,000 to 1,500 km and is fitted on Type-055-class destroyers and H-6N strategic bombers. According to SCMPthis type of missile is expected to be able to intercept and destroy US warships from a distance in the event of a conflict breaking out over Taiwan.
The video of the YJ-21 anti-ship missile test went viral on Chinese social media – Source: WEIBO/YOUTUBE
Mr. Lu Li-shih, a former lecturer at the Taiwan Naval Academy, believes that The YJ-21 can be deployed to the PLA Navy’s Type 052D destroyers.
“Taiwan definitely needs more weapons for self-defense because so far there is no anti-aircraft early warning system on a Taiwanese warship that can detect a YJ-21 missile attack,” Lu said. raised concerns in the conversation with SCMP.
Type 055 is considered the second most powerful destroyer in the world, after the Zumwalt class destroyer of the US Navy.
The Chinese Navy launched the third and fourth Type 055-class ships at the end of last year, respectively. The fifth is expected to be commissioned in the first half of this year.
China considers Taiwan an inalienable part of its territory and leaves open the possibility of using force to reclaim it. The Beijing government opposes any official contact between countries with Taipei.
The United States has no formal relations with Taiwan but maintains arms supplies under a 1979 law that requires it to be able to defend itself against foreign attacks.
Last week, a group of US senators led by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez had a high-level meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to discuss the regional security situation.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: tuoitre.vn – Read the original article here
