J-15T First Mounts YJ-15 Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile: PLA Aircraft Carrier Strike Range Expands to 1800 Kilometers

On February 7, a photo circulating on social media caught the attention of military observers—a J-15T carrier-based aircraft was seen with two previously undisclosed missiles mounted under its wings. Confirmed by several professionals, these are indeed the YJ-15 supersonic anti-ship missiles first showcased during the military parade on September 3, 2025. This seemingly ordinary equipment photo actually signifies a new level of anti-ship capability for the PLA aircraft carrier battle group.

From Parade Ground to Deck—Rapid Deployment of YJ-15

When the YJ-15 was publicly unveiled during the military parade last September, many regarded it as merely a "demonstrative weapon," not expecting it to appear on carrier-based aircraft just five months later. What does this speed indicate? Simply put, this missile had already completed most of its testing before the parade, and the public display was more of an "official announcement" rather than a technical validation.

In terms of appearance, the YJ-15 features a design with four axis-symmetric air intakes, which is typical of ramjet or scramjet engines. The midsection of the missile has four elongated stabilizing wings, and the tail section has four independent tail fins. This design is quite similar to the Russian Kh-31 missile, but the YJ-15's body is noticeably thicker and longer, with a larger fuel capacity.

According to analysis from Jane's Defence, based on the missile's dimensions, the effective range of the YJ-15 could be between 1200-1800 kilometers. Some Twitter users claim its speed can exceed Mach 5; although this figure has not been officially confirmed, the design of the air intakes suggests that achieving a supersonic cruising capability of Mach 4-5 is entirely possible.

An Easily Overlooked Detail—Universal Design

It is worth noting that photos from 2022 showed the Air Force's J-16 fighter jet carrying the YJ-15. This indicates that the missile employs a universal design suitable for both naval and air force applications, capable of being equipped on carrier-based aircraft as well as land-based fighters, and even the H-6K bomber may potentially use it.

What are the benefits of this universal strategy? For the military-industrial system, a single production line can simultaneously meet the needs of multiple branches, significantly reducing research and development costs as well as production costs. For frontline troops, logistical support becomes simpler—there is no need to prepare different types of ammunition for different platforms.

More critically, universality means that production capacity can be rapidly increased. Once war breaks out, military enterprises can focus all efforts on producing one type of missile, rather than spreading resources thin by producing multiple missiles with similar functions. This "mass production capability" is often more important than the performance of individual weapons in modern high-intensity conflicts.

Formation of a Triad Anti-Ship System

The deployment of the YJ-15 has allowed the PLA aircraft carrier battle group to establish a complete tiered configuration of anti-ship firepower:

• YJ-18A: Ship-launched subsonic cruise missile, range approximately 600 kilometers, accelerates to supersonic in the terminal phase, already equipped on the 055 and 052D destroyers
• YJ-20: Ship-launched hypersonic ballistic missile, completed final testing on the 055 destroyer in December 2025, range possibly exceeding 2000 kilometers
• YJ-15: Air-launched supersonic cruise missile, range 1200-1800 kilometers, now equipped on the J-15T carrier-based aircraft

These three types of missiles each have their roles: the YJ-18 is responsible for medium-range anti-ship operations, the YJ-20 is tasked with long-range strikes against high-value targets (such as aircraft carriers), while the YJ-15 fills the gap for "aerial anti-ship" capabilities within the carrier battle group.

In the past, the anti-ship operations of the PLA aircraft carrier fleet primarily relied on surface vessels launching missiles, with carrier-based aircraft mainly undertaking air superiority and ground strike missions. Now, with the J-15T equipped with the YJ-15, it effectively adds an "aerial anti-ship strike team" to the carrier—capable of launching attacks from greater distances and more flexible positions.

What Does 1800 Kilometers Mean?

If the YJ-15's range truly reaches 1800 kilometers, then a J-15T taking off from the East China Sea could strike targets in the waters east of Guam. From the South China Sea, it could cover the entire Philippine Sea. This strike radius already exceeds that of most of the U.S. Navy's current shipborne anti-ship missiles.

More importantly, this range significantly enhances the operational freedom of PLA aircraft carriers within the second island chain. In the past, carriers had to risk moving into the range of enemy anti-ship missiles to strike distant targets. Now, carriers can deliver long-range strike capabilities through carrier-based aircraft from a relatively safe distance.

This ability to "stand further and strike further" is the core competitive advantage of modern aircraft carrier battle groups.

The Real Question Lies Elsewhere

The rapid deployment of the YJ-15 is certainly noteworthy, but the author believes that a more thought-provoking question is: why has the PLA consecutively unveiled four new types of anti-ship missiles—YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20—in just one year?

These missiles each emphasize different design concepts—some are supersonic cruise missiles, some are hypersonic gliding missiles, some are ballistic, and others are submarine-launched hypersonic missiles. Is this "diverse development" model a concentrated explosion of technological reserves, or a precise layout for different combat scenarios?

If it is the latter, then what are the specific "different combat scenarios" that the PLA is targeting? Who are the hypothetical enemies corresponding to these scenarios? The answers to these questions may be more worthy of contemplation than the YJ-15 itself.