Shahab-2 vs YJ-21: Specs Compared

FORCETALLY

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Shahab-2 — licensed reference photograph

ABallistic missiles

Shahab-2

tactical short-range ballistic missile

Credit

Vahid alpha · CC BY 3.0 · Resized · CC BY 3.0 · Source ↗ · Modified

BBallistic missiles

YJ-21

Hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

Shahab-2Length

11.37–12.29 m

Length source ↗

YJ-21approx

≈ 8.3 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

Measured figures

Head to head

8 of 22 rows sourced on both sides

11.37–12.29m

≈ 8.3mapprox

Length

All recorded figures & sources

11.37–12.29 m

Length

Single source

11.37–12.29 m^[source]

≈ 8.3 m

approx

Single source

Configuration

Details

Shahab-2 and YJ-21 configuration
Specification	Shahab-2	YJ-21
Type	Tactical SRBM^[source]	Hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile^[source]
In service	1990–2016 (in Iran); present (in Syria)^[source]	2022–present^[source]
Used by	See § Operators^[source]	People's Liberation Army Navy^[source]
Manufacturer	Iran^[source]	CALT ?/ SAST ?^[source]

Warhead	770kg^[source]	Conventional^[source]

Engine	Liquid^[source]	—

Guidance system	inertial^[source]	—

Accuracy	500m CEP^[source]	—

Role	tactical short-range ballistic missile^[source]	—

Source measurement	On November 2, 2006, Iran fired unarmed missiles to begin 10 days of military simulations . Iranian state television reported "dozens of missiles were fired, including Shahab-2 and Shahab-3 missiles. The missiles ranged from 300 km to up to 2,000 km. Iranian experts have made some changes to Shahab-3 missiles, installing cluster warheads in them with the capacity to carry 1,400 bombs."^[source]Shahab-2 · History; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage	In 2022, an unidentified hypersonic missile was revealed by the Chinese Navy ahead of its 73rd anniversary, launching from a universal vertical launch system of the Type 055 destroyer . The Chinese Navy did not reveal the missile's designation, but defense analysts believed it to be the ship-launched version of the YJ-21. However, with the emergence of the YJ-20 hypersonic missile in 2025, having a more closely aligned profile to the missile launched by Type 055 in 2022, analysts believed these were two separate missile developments.^[source]YJ-21 · History and development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage According to a 2023 People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force article, the missile has a cruise speed of Mach 6, and a terminal speed of Mach 10. The missile could be launched from China's Type 055 destroyer or the H-6 bomber.^[source]YJ-21 · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Source measurement

On November 2, 2006, Iran fired unarmed missiles to begin 10 days of military simulations . Iranian state television reported "dozens of missiles were fired, including Shahab-2 and Shahab-3 missiles. The missiles ranged from 300 km to up to 2,000 km. Iranian experts have made some changes to Shahab-3 missiles, installing cluster warheads in them with the capacity to carry 1,400 bombs."^[source]Shahab-2 · History; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

In 2022, an unidentified hypersonic missile was revealed by the Chinese Navy ahead of its 73rd anniversary, launching from a universal vertical launch system of the Type 055 destroyer . The Chinese Navy did not reveal the missile's designation, but defense analysts believed it to be the ship-launched version of the YJ-21. However, with the emergence of the YJ-20 hypersonic missile in 2025, having a more closely aligned profile to the missile launched by Type 055 in 2022, analysts believed these were two separate missile developments.^[source]YJ-21 · History and development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

According to a 2023 People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force article, the missile has a cruise speed of Mach 6, and a terminal speed of Mach 10. The missile could be launched from China's Type 055 destroyer or the H-6 bomber.^[source]YJ-21 · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage