China is drawing global attention after a private aerospace firm unveiled a hypersonic glide missile with a price tag far below anything on the international market.
Lingkong Tianxing’s YKJ-1000, capable of flying at Mach 7 with a 1,300-km range, reportedly costs the equivalent of just US$99,000 per unit, according to slides circulating online.
👀 SPACE-TRANSPORTATION is now in defense industry.
— China 'N Asia Spaceflight 🚀𝕏 🛰️ (@CNSpaceflight) November 25, 2025
🚀 YKJ-1000 hypersonic missile released. https://t.co/Vpmk4MdWHC pic.twitter.com/ypLBjvm24F
The missile uses civilian-grade materials — including foamed concrete for heat resistance — and mass-produced commercial components, enabling unusually low manufacturing costs.
State media and military analysts say the missile’s affordability could upend global defense markets, since it costs more than 40 times less than U.S. interceptors like the SM-6 or THAAD.
A private sector firm in #China announced that it has developed a #hypersonic #missile system — the YKJ-1000, which can be mass-produced at low cost. And the biggest advantage of "less advanced hypersonic missile systems" like the YKJ-1000 is that they can be manufactured and… pic.twitter.com/GMuTUTBioi
— Beijing Daily (@DailyBeijing) November 30, 2025
Analysts warn that widespread exports could allow smaller nations to threaten major powers by overwhelming defenses with large volleys of cheap hypersonic weapons.
China's State-owned defense contractors are known for their expertise in ultrafast weapons such as the DF-17 and the YJ-21. Now, a private sector firm has stepped into this cutting-edge sector, developing a system that can launch a missile with a top speed of Mach 7.
— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) November 29, 2025
Lingkong… pic.twitter.com/2k2H4juMoG
Some Chinese commentators question whether the cost figures are realistic, especially regarding fuel and engine prices. The company says it will release a detailed breakdown soon.
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TIPP Staff
