The YJ-21E noticed on the J-10C is a smaller variant of the bigger YJ-21/KD-21 predominantly noticed on the H-6K bomber, particularly designed for fighter jets and drones.
China’s J-10C fighter has emerged in a current {photograph} with what observers have recognized because the ‘E’ variant of the YJ-21 Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (AShBM), the YJ-21E. Describing it a “smaller” variant of the YJ-21 that has been beforehand been carried by the PLA Air Pressure’s H-6K bombers, ‘Hurin’, a number one profile analyzing Chinese language aerospace and army tools, additionally shared a picture of a mock-up show of the YJ-21E from an exhibition.
It have to be famous that given the multirole nature of the J-10C, the plane might have been built-in with the air-to-surface missile for a while (and even live-fired it), with this being solely the primary time it has been photographed. The J-10C might be thought-about in the identical class of the U.S.-made F-16, which is the launching platform for heavy-hitting surface-strike munitions just like the AGM-158 JASSM-ER and the Stand-in Assault Weapon (SiAW), but additionally able to using anti-ship missiles.
The YJ-21 additionally goes by different designations accorded by numerous quarters. The truth is, it has been recognized because the KD-21 by different Chinese language army analysts like Andreas Rupprecht, and 2PZD-21 by the Chinese language army itself, with the corresponding markings noticed on the missile being carried underneath the H-6K since 2022 in unofficial photos.
BREAKING: A J-10C fighter has been noticed carrying what seems to be the YJ-21E hypersonic missile, marking the primary recognized integration of a smaller export-configured hypersonic land assault/anti-ship weapon on the plane. 👇 pic.twitter.com/6JMvB2TfMC
— Pakistan Defence (@PakDef_) December 24, 2025
The YJ-21 designation had been talked about by Chinese language state shops like World Occasions, which itself attributes the origin of this nomenclature to “overseas media.” This was then confirmed to be the ultimate, official designation throughout the Sep. 3 parade, the place truck-mounted fashions of the missiles with the YJ-21 marking rolled down as part of that contingent.
The KD-21 ALBM
We have now reported in regards to the KD-21 prior to now, when it was displayed as part of the payload of a CH-series Unmanned Fight Aerial Automobile (UCAV) in October 2024. Previous to that, in July of the identical yr, we reported about an H-6K being photographed carrying 4 of the missiles, two and a half months after a PLAAF H-6K was captured dropping the KD-21 in official footage.
Might this be the CH-9 (?) or is it a CH-5 variant?Additionally noteworthy is the KD-21 (2PZD-21) ALBM.
Not less than it seems to be just like the bigger “inexperienced” UCAV we’ve seen a while in the past.
(Picture by way of @琴石2022 from Weibo) pic.twitter.com/LNF1SRyis7
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) September 27, 2024
The Aviationist has additionally reported about different large Chinese language Air-Launched Ballistic Missiles (ALBM) just like the CH-AS-X-13. Different observers had identified that is unlikely to be simply an prolonged KD-21, given the numerous variations within the nostril cone and the size, though it’s not potential to discern how the KD-21/2PZD-21/YJ-21/YJ-21E and the CH-AS-X-13 are associated.
Nice shock! 😮
For the primary time a PLAAF H-6K was seen carrying for 2PZD-21 (KD-21) ALBMs.
(Pictures by way of @南部空军 from Weibo) pic.twitter.com/o6cEAuGNza
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) June 29, 2024
J-20 and the YJ-21E
The J-10C within the newly surfaced picture is carrying the YJ-21E on its port (left-side) wing whereas being photographed from the precise aspect. Just some components of the weapon are seen, together with the tip and a major a part of the decrease half.
We are able to see a twin crimson and yellow-coloured band close to the tip. The KD-21 proven in entrance of the CH-series UCAV as part of its consultant payload has a red-colored band as an alternative.
In an earlier image from November 2022, the 2PZD-21 (the designation stenciled on the missile’s physique) underneath the H-6K had a yellow band alongside part of its size. Nonetheless, World Occasions reported in July 2024, when the H-6K carried 4 of the missiles, that the November 2022 reveal throughout the Zhuhai Air Present as a static show was the weapon’s debut. On that event, the missile sported a sealed exhaust, as frequent with inert weapons.
Up to now the perfect photographs of the H-6K serial quantity 11097 with the brand new ballistic missile underneath its wings.
(Pictures by way of @航空工业 and @瘦驼 from Weibo) pic.twitter.com/XfcwQ8fqqn
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) November 3, 2022
Typically, going by commonplace worldwide army practices, blue bands signify inert/coaching munitions, whereas yellow ones point out dwell munitions. It’s unclear whether or not China equally makes use of crimson and yellow to indicate dwell standing.
An Apr. 1, 2025 picture additionally confirmed an H-6K bomber carrying two KD-21 ALBMs, which observers claimed was throughout the “Strait Thunder-2025A” train held by the ETC (Japanese Theater Command) round Taiwan. These didn’t have any coloured markings, however slightly a white-colored tip.
That‘s attention-grabbing: AFAIR it’s the first time confirmed, to see the KD-21 ALBM being carried by an operational bomber.
Right here a H-6K assigned to the tenth Bomber division carries two KD-21s throughout the ongoing train.
(Pictures by way of @太湖军I名 from Weibo) pic.twitter.com/EszNyGrPd9
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) April 1, 2025
Rupprecht and different observers on the time believed the KD-21 had been already operational, because the H-6K carrying it belonged to an operational unit – the tenth Bomber Division. On condition that, within the newest picture of the KD-21 underneath the J-10C, we can’t see the missile totally, particularly its rear exhaust and management fins, it’s troublesome to research the general dimensions of the weapon and the variations from the bigger KD-21.
The J-10C right here can be not carrying another munitions, besides for 3 exterior gas tanks. Markings on the plane and the tail that point out the serial quantity and its unit are additionally absent, though that is presumably deliberate for Operational Safety (OPSEC) functions.
5月1日メーデー特番内に登場したH-6K爆撃機。2PZD-21 ALBMの実弾発射シーンがあります。 pic.twitter.com/68uxH3Eazz
— お砂糖wsnbn (@sugar_wsnbn) Might 1, 2024
Conclusion
What might be mentioned for sure is that the pattern of deriving sure ALBMs from a bigger missile is now frequent follow.
This may be seen within the relationship between the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic hypersonic missile and the ground-launched 9K720 Iskander-M tactical ballistic missile. The Middle for Strategic and Worldwide Research (CSIS) famous that the Kinzhal “is probably going derived” from the Iskander-M.
C-AS-X-13というやつか結局YJ-21と関係無いのかどうかが分からん pic.twitter.com/r8IsshG2ZE
— MIKOYaN☆🕷️ (@mikovlev130) April 5, 2025
This implies the Kinzhal might simply be an Iskander-M with out its booster stage, used when the weapon is launched from the road-mobile Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL). To launch the missile from the air, it’s doubtless the service MiG-31K has to realize the actual velocity and altitude much like those achieved by the Iskander’s booster, earlier than the jet’s pilot begins the launch sequence.
The aim of the reasoning is to focus on that sure weapons improvement developments throughout nations are common. Even when the KD-21/2PZD-21/YJ-21 and the CH-AS-X-13 have been unrelated, their strikingly comparable shapes present how growing a missile based mostly on an present one is an easier proposition.
9A7660のようにブースターを1段追加してる訳でもないのに舵がないということはKD/YJ-21はCM-401ともDF-12とも違う完全新設計なのか？陸軍が採用したらしい火龙480には舵がない気がするがこの展示は実物じゃないので多分無関係だろう pic.twitter.com/lw1ojGsWvm
— MIKOYaN☆🕷️ (@mikovlev130) April 4, 2025
The CH-AS-X-13 will drop from the slow-flying H-6K earlier than the booster ignites and the missile goes close to vertical, in a ballistic or quasi-ballistic trajectory, earlier than shedding its levels to launch the ultimate stage’s ‘kill car.’ A quick-flying J-10, given its personal natural high-speed, can launch the KD-21/YJ-21/2PZD-21 on the required kinematics. This can dive down at what GT says could be hypersonic speeds (Mach 5 and above) on plane carriers.
