CHINA has unveiled new “dirt cheap” missiles, already in mass production after successful combat trials, as fears grow that President Xi Jingping is about to invade Taiwan.
The hypersonic glide missiles, produced by a private aerospace firm, are 40 times cheaper than US equivalent weapons.
The YKJ-1000 is cement coated and is “dirt cheap” compared to other missilesCredit: scmp
Xi Jinping has been adamant that Beijing should control Taiwan and he has refused to shy away from the idea of forcefully taking over the self-governing islandCredit: AP
Bejing aerospace firm Lingkong Tianxing’s new war toy, the YKJ-1000, reportedly costs $99,000 per unit and are capable of flying at Mach 7 with an 800 mile range.
The “dirt cheap” missiles are made from civilian-grade materials like foamed cement and mass-produced commercial components, enabling the unusually low manufacturing costs.
It is believed to be the first instance of a commercial firm offering a strategic-level weapon to the Chinese military.
In a promotional video, the new missiles’ capabilities are illustrated by a doctored airstrike on Japan.
The missile maintains powered flight for 360 seconds, according to the company.
A company spokesperson said the missile was able to be launched from a shipping container, and was: “designed for rapid, precision strikes against high-value targets deep in enemy territory”.
An version of the weapon incorporating artificial intelligence-enabled decision-making and swarm collaboration capabilities is under development, according to local media reports.
State media and military analysts say the affordability of the new missiles could upend global defence markets due to the imbalance between low-cost offence and high-cost defence.
Experts say the “cement-coated” YKJ-1000 could prove “formidably competitive” internationally.
A single SM-6 naval interceptor costs about US$4.1 million, over 40 times the price of one YKJ-1000.
Meanwhile, the THAAD system costs US$12-15 million for each interceptor, while the Patriot PAC-3 that Taiwan hopes to buy would cost US$3.7-4.2 million each.
It comes as .
As tensions between historic foes China and Japan explode over Taiwan, Beijing has warned the world that it is ready for war.
China is gearing up for war, experts sayCredit: Alamy
Amid an escalating war of words sparked by Tokyo’s comments on Taiwan, experts reveal how knife-edge relations could spiral into a direct military confrontation with one wrong move.
In the latest episode of The Sun’s Battle Plans Exposed, military intelligence expert Philip Ingram MBE reveals the fraught tensions – and explains exactly how could storm the island.
Ingram explains that Xi has positioned the as “a core part of his vision” for the country.
While so far the two sides have avoided firing a single shot, Xi has made it very clear that China “reserves the “, Ingram says.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
