The Chinese Air Force may have begun equipping its J-10C fighters with the new YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship missile

Recent images circulated on social media and analyzed by specialized observers indicate that the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China may have begun integrating the YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship missile on its J-10C multirole fighters. If confirmed, this would represent a new step in expanding the range of platforms capable of employing this weapon system, which has previously been observed on bombers and surface combatants.

The YJ-21E and its possible integration on the J-10C

According to analysis of a recently released photograph, a Chengdu J-10C fighter was captured carrying what has been identified as the YJ-21E variant of the YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship missile. This version is believed to be a smaller variant of the YJ-21/KD-21, specifically designed for employment from fighter aircraft and unmanned platforms.

The analyst known as Hurin, who closely follows Chinese aerospace and military developments, noted that the missile observed corresponds to a reduced-size version of the YJ-21 previously seen on Xian H-6K bombers of the PLAAF. The same analyst also shared images of a display model of the YJ-21E presented at a defense exhibition.

In the analyzed image, the J-10C carries the missile on its left wing, while the rest of its external configuration is limited to three external fuel tanks. No unit markings or serial numbers are visible, which some observers attribute to operational security (OPSEC) measures.

Designations and background of the YJ-21 / KD-21 missile

The YJ-21 missile is known under several designations. Some Chinese analysts, such as Andreas Rupprecht, identify it as the KD-21, while the People’s Liberation Army has internally designated it as the 2PZD-21, a nomenclature that has appeared on examples carried by H-6K bombers since at least 2022 in unofficial imagery.

The YJ-21 designation was mentioned by Chinese state-affiliated media such as Global Times, which attributed the name to “foreign media.” This designation was later officially confirmed during the military parade on September 3, when models of the missile mounted on ground vehicles were displayed bearing the YJ-21 marking.

Previous employment on bombers, drones, and surface combatants

The KD-21 has previously been reported as part of the payload of CH-series unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), displayed in October 2024. Months earlier, in July of the same year, images showed an H-6K bomber carrying four of these missiles, shortly after official footage captured the system being launched during tests.

In March 2024, a Xian H-6N bomber was observed carrying the new YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship missile. Subsequently, in April 2025, new images showed an H-6K from the 10th Bomber Regiment carrying two KD-21 missiles during the “Strait Thunder-2025A” exercise conducted by the Eastern Theater Command (ETC) near Taiwan. At the time, several analysts assessed that the system had already reached operational status.

Separately, in August 2024, open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources circulated images and videos showing the launch of a YJ-21 missile from a Type 055 destroyer of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The launch was reportedly conducted from one of the Renhai-class vessels, although it was not possible to definitively identify which ship participated in the test. No official confirmation was issued by China’s Ministry of Defense.

Visible characteristics and operational status

Images of the YJ-21E carried by the J-10C show red and yellow bands near the nose of the weapon. Under international military standards, blue bands typically indicate inert or training munitions, while yellow bands denote live warheads. However, it remains unclear whether China follows the same color-coding conventions, as other KD-21 examples have shown variations in markings or no markings at all.

Because the missile is not fully visible in the photograph—particularly the rear section and control surfaces—analysts note that it is not yet possible to precisely determine the dimensional differences between the YJ-21E and the larger variants used by H-6 bombers.

Another step in platform diversification

The J-10C is a multirole fighter comparable in its class to the U.S. F-16, a platform that can also employ long-range air-to-surface and anti-ship weapons. The potential integration of the YJ-21E on this aircraft would expand the range of Chinese aerial platforms capable of employing hypersonic anti-ship missiles, adding to bombers, drones, and surface combatants.

To date, there has been no official confirmation from the PLAAF regarding the entry into service of the YJ-21E on the J-10C. Nevertheless, the available photographic evidence suggests that integration testing is, at a minimum, already underway.

Images for illustrative purposes only.

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