25.11.2025 21:06
The China-based technology giant Lingkong Tianxing has successfully tested its low-cost hypersonic missiles that can be transported by truck. The YKJ-1000 can hit targets by bypassing radar and defense systems, and it stands out with its cost-effectiveness suitable for mass production. These missiles, which are valued at one-tenth the cost of traditional models, have already raised concerns at the Pentagon about the potential shift in maritime superiority in the Pacific.
The China-based technology giant Lingkong Tianxing has tested the new generation YKJ-1000 hypersonic missiles that can be transported by truck. In the images shared with animations, the missile successfully hit a desert target by overcoming defense systems like a naval fleet.
DESIGNED TO RESEMBLE A TRANSPORT CONTAINER
The company designed the YKJ-1000 model to resemble a standard transport container. The missile can be transported by truck and is ready for launch thanks to automatic stabilizers that extend from its four corners. Lingkong Tianxing officials stated that this design enhances both stealth and rapid deployment capabilities. An official said, "This missile is worth about one-tenth the cost of traditional models and is ready for mass production."
PRODUCED AT ONE-TENTH THE PRICE OF ITS COMPETITORS
Traditional hypersonic missiles cost millions of dollars due to rare metals and complex thermal processing. Lingkong Tianxing reduced production costs by 90% by using more accessible alloys instead of rare metals like tungsten. As a result, a missile is produced at one-tenth the price of its competitors. This approach, announced by the company in June 2025, supports China's "Made in China 2025" strategy, which aims to provide significant production capacity through collaboration with the private sector.
FIRST EXAMPLE OF PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION
Tianxing stated that mass production of the new hypersonic missiles has begun and announced that they have reached 'industrial scale' capacity. This marks the first example of private sector participation in China's hypersonic program. Previously, hypersonic projects were conducted solely by state-owned companies CASIC and AVIC.
PENTAGON IS CONCERNED
Claims that China could surpass the U.S. in hypersonic technology are being discussed in the global press. Since the DF-17 tests, China has been making ambitious moves with long-range models like the DF-27. In May 2025, space-based launches and re-entry glide vehicles capable of reaching Mach 10 were announced. Experts indicate that cheap and mass-producible missiles could equip the Chinese army with large stockpiles. The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) claims that China has increased its hypersonic inventory to a thousand, expressing concerns about maritime superiority in the Pacific.
IS A NEW COLD WAR BEGINNING?
China's hypersonic cheap weapon move and the U.S.'s countermeasures signal a new era in international security balances. The reason is that cheap and truck-transportable hypersonic missiles could affect not only China but also regional and global balances. These weapons, which could provide asymmetric superiority in the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea, could pose a threat to a fleet with a container full of missiles. Experts suggest that China's hypersonic stockpiles could ignite the fuse for a new Cold War.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF YKJ-1000
The YKJ-1000 hypersonic missile can reach speeds of 6,100 to 8,500 kilometers per hour, which is five to seven times the speed of sound. With an average range of 1,300 kilometers, the missile can reach its targets without being detected by radars and defense systems. This combination of high speed and long range makes the missile capable of hitting an aircraft carrier fleet from the shore.