China to arm Submarines with new Hypersonic Missile

China is preparing to equip its navy’s submarines with a new scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missile, known as the YJ-19.

Mockups of the YJ-19 hypersonic missile, publicly displayed for the first time during the parade in Beijing attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, point to a system designed for underwater launch from the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) submarines, including both conventional and nuclear-powered platforms.

The missile is expected to be launched from standard 533 mm torpedo tubes, a configuration common across China’s expanding submarine fleet.

Military analysts describe the YJ-19 as a scramjet-powered, high-altitude cruise missile with boosted launch capability, offering the PLAN a new standoff strike weapon that combines submerged survivability with hypersonic speed. Its compact dimensions—noticeably smaller than China’s YJ-17 and YJ-20 systems—suggest compatibility with existing torpedo launch infrastructure, eliminating the need for vertical launch systems.

Footage aired by Chinese state media showed the YJ-19 mockup displayed in a distinct white paint scheme, contrasting with the blue typically used for PLAN anti-ship weapons. The absence of visible suspension lugs further supports the assessment that the missile is not intended for aircraft or deck-mounted launch, but rather for encapsulated storage and deployment from underwater platforms.

Defense analyst Shahryar Pasandideh noted that, “Given how the YJ-19 has a much smaller diameter (including its booster) than the YJ-17 and YJ-20, there has been speculation that the YJ-19 is designed to be launched from a standard 533 mm diameter torpedo tube of PLAN submarines.”

China’s emphasis on unveiling submarine-launched weapons—alongside surface-launched anti-ship missiles and advanced torpedoes—during a parade attended by key geopolitical allies highlights its drive to modernize undersea strike capabilities. The YJ-19, if fielded, would mark a new phase in PLAN submarine warfare by introducing hypersonic weapons to its underwater arsenal, allowing for faster, longer-range engagement of naval targets.

While the Chinese government has not officially confirmed the operational status of the YJ-19, its appearance at a nationally televised military event strongly suggests the system is progressing toward deployment. China’s broader investment in hypersonic and long-range maritime strike systems aligns with its strategic focus on deterring adversary naval forces and denying access to key regional waters.

The inclusion of the YJ-19 in the Beijing parade, set against the backdrop of tightening ties between China, Russia, and North Korea, signals an intent to publicly display strategic deterrent capabilities and emerging naval technologies. Observers note that China’s submarine fleet continues to expand not just in numbers but in technological sophistication—now poised to carry one of the most advanced submarine-launched hypersonic weapons yet unveiled.

If fielded successfully, the YJ-19 would expand the PLAN’s ability to strike from below the surface with near-immediate impact, presenting a new operational challenge to Western and regional navies operating in the Indo-Pacific.