China Launches 'Carrier Killer' Missile from 7,500-ton Destroyer for First Time

On the 28th, the Chinese Navy released footage for the first time of a YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile, dubbed an 'aircraft carrier killer,' being launched from a 7,500-ton Type 052D destroyer. The video has drawn attention as it is the first piece of evidence suggesting the missile can be deployed on the Type 052D, the Navy's primary combat vessel, following the December release of a launch from the 10,000-ton Type 055 destroyer *Wuxi*. The footage captured the missile being ejected from the launch tube before igniting its engine in mid-air, though Chinese authorities did not disclose details regarding its active deployment status or specific specifications (such as range and speed).

In contrast, Japan's Ministry of Defense announced on the 30th that the Maritime Self-Defense Force Aegis destroyer *Chokai* conducted a test launch of a Tomahawk cruise missile in the Pacific. The Ministry stated that the test confirmed operational capabilities, including crew proficiency regarding missile launches. Japan plans to introduce 400 Tomahawk missiles between 2025 and 2027 under a contract signed in 2024.

The back-to-back disclosure of weapons system tests by both nations is expected to further intensify the strategic rivalry in the Western Pacific region.