There is also the J-20/35 IWB launched missile, presumably an air breathing HCM. "Beijing Heavy Hammer" is likely an ICBM. There is also a successor to the "Beijing Heavy Hammer."
Chinese Hypersonic Developments (HGVs/HCMs)
- Thread starter A.Man
- Start date
Also from Guancha Gang? Is this one the same as those HGV/HCM meant for the H-20?
Then why aren't the DF-21D, DF-16 and DF-26 included? All of these can glide within the atmosphere, especially the DF-26A. The configuration of the YJ-20 is not much change from the DF-21D and DF-26A.
This reminds me of the US military's attitude toward hypersonic technology. When the US military was only developing HCM and HGV, Bi-conical could only be classified as Marvs. When the HCM and HGV projects failed one after another and they had to develop C-HGB, they reclassified their own Bi-conical as HGV.
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Per @Kalec's sources, the DF-21 family is also getting retired/relegated to training duties.
Well, if you say so.
Yes, it's from the recent paid podcast. They said something like: the "Beijing Heavy Hammer" is quite old and was designed before even the H-6N was developed; now that it is revealed, rest assured that better missiles have been developed.
Summing up what we've known about China's hypersonic missile arsenal, so far. The list may not be exhaustive. (Updated 23 August 2025)
Visually Confirmed/Officially Confirmed:
Rumored/Claimed/Mentioned:
Note:
- Only in-active-service, about-to-enter-service and presently-in-development models are included in the list.
- Classification of ranges for SRBM (<1000 kilometers), MRBM (1000-3000 kilometers), IRBM (3000-8000 kilometers), ICBM (>8000 kilometers), respectively.
Visually Confirmed/Officially Confirmed:
| Model | Type | Range | Launch Platform |
| DF-16B | Bi-conical HGV | MRBM | TEL |
| DF-17 | Wave-rider HGV | MRBM | TEL |
| DF-26B | Bi-conical HGV | IRBM | TEL |
| YJ-17 | Wave-rider HGV | MRBM | UVLS cells of DDG |
| YJ-19 | Air-breathing HCM | SRBM | Torpedo tubes of SSK and SSN |
| YJ-20 | Bi-conical HGV | MRBM | UVLS cells of DDG |
| YJ-21/KD-21 | Bi-conical HGV | MRBM | H-6K/J/N |
| YJ-XX/DF-XX ("Beijing Heavy Hammer") | Bi-conical HGV/Wave-rider HGV | IRBM/ICBM(?) | H-6N |
Rumored/Claimed/Mentioned:
| Model | Type | Range | Launch Platform |
| DF-27 | Wave-rider HGV | IRBM | TEL |
| DF-19 (successor to DF-17) | Wave-rider HGV | MRBM(?) | TEL |
| YJ-XX | Air-breathing HCM(?) | SRBM(?)/MRBM(?) | IWB/underwing pylons of fighters |
| YJ-XX (UVLS-adapted YJ-19) | Air-breathing HCM | MRBM | UVLS cells of DDG |
| DF-XX (TEL-based variant of YJ-19(?)/YJ-XX(?)) | Air-breathing HCM | MRBM | TEL |
| DF-XX (two boxy canister on TEL) | Air-breathing HCM | MRBM/IRBM(?) | TEL |
| DF-XX (land-based variant of YJ-20(?)) | Bi-conical HGV | MRBM(?) | TEL |
| YJ-XX/DF-XX | Bi-conical HGV/Wave-rider HGV | MRBM(?)/IRBM(?) | H-20 |
| YJ-XX/DF-XX | Air-breathing HCM | MRBM(?)/IRBM(?) | H-20 |
| YJ-XX/DF-XX (successor to "Beijing Heavy Hammer") | Bi-conical HGV/Wave-rider HGV | IRBM/ICBM(?) | H-6N |
| DF-XX (Next-gen ICBM RV(?)/FOBS(?)) | Wave-rider HGV(?) | ICBM | TEL/Silo |
Note:
- Only in-active-service, about-to-enter-service and presently-in-development models are included in the list.
- Classification of ranges for SRBM (<1000 kilometers), MRBM (1000-3000 kilometers), IRBM (3000-8000 kilometers), ICBM (>8000 kilometers), respectively.
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