China Launches Low-Cost Hypersonic Missile YKJ-1000, Shaking Global Defense Market

China’s aerospace firm, Lingkong Tianxing, has unveiled a new hypersonic glide missile, the YKJ-1000, capturing global attention for its high performance and surprisingly low cost.

The YKJ-1000 boasts a range of 1,300 kilometers and can travel at speeds seven times faster than the speed of sound, making it one of the fastest missiles in its category.

Dubbed the ‘cement-coated missile’ due to its outer thermal-resistant layer constructed with common materials such as foam concrete, the missile has reportedly completed successful military tests and is now entering large-scale production. Chinese media reports indicate that each unit costs as little as $99,000.

By comparison, the U.S. SM-6 naval interceptor missile, designed to counter such threats, costs approximately $4.1 million per unit, making it around 40 times more expensive than the YKJ-1000. Similarly, a single interceptor from the U.S. THAAD missile defense system ranges between $12 million and $15 million.

Military analysts are noting the potential implications of this price disparity on global defense strategies. Some experts suggest that the YKJ-1000 could attract significant international demand, particularly among countries that have yet to develop their own hypersonic missile capabilities.

However, some critics have raised concerns over the missile’s low production cost, questioning how essential components such as fuel and rocket engines could be manufactured at such a low price.

The Chinese company has stated that they will soon provide a detailed explanation to address these concerns.