Capable of “sinking” US aircraft carriers, China displays colossal “secret” Yu-10 torpedo marking 70 years of its naval strength!

China's secret torpedo is revealed and attracts the attention of major world powers. Discover the Yu-10 and all its destructive power.

The recent disclosure of a military exercise by China, involving a high-tech torpedo, caught the attention of the entire world. The weapon, known as Yu-10, was responsible for sinking a target ship during a demonstration that not only impressed with its precision, but also with the destructive power displayed. THE revelation of this “secret torpedo from China” reinforces the country’s naval capabilities, especially with regard to the potential of its conventional submarines in confrontations against large naval assets such as aircraft carriers.

China releases images of surprising military exercise

In mid-June, CCTV, China's state broadcaster, released images of a military exercise carried out by the Exercito de Libertação Popular (ELP). In the images, a Chinese submarine can be seen launching the Yu-10 torpedo, which hits a target ship, sinking it within seconds. The exercise, which was widely shared on Chinese social media as Weibo and X (formerly Twitter), went viral due to the striking impact of the attack.

The video shows the exact moment the torpedo explodes, launching the target ship out of the water in a violent movement. The force of the explosion was so intense that it could have caused irreparable damage to the ship's keel if it had been in a real combat scenario.

Meet China's new secret weapon: Yu-10

Although there was initially little information about the torpedo used in the exercise, a recent report from South China Morning Post (SCMP), which cited the Chinese military magazine Ordnance Industry Science Technology, revealed that the weapon in question was the Yu-10. This torpedo, which had been kept secret until then, was publicly presented in a documentary celebrating 70 years of the PLA Navy's submarine force.

The Yu-10 has proven to be a formidable addition to the Chinese arsenal. During the exercise, the target – believed to be a retired Type 074 amphibious landing ship – was hit with such force that its stern was thrown into the air, generating a column of water almost 100 meters high. This display of firepower made it clear that China's secret torpedo is not just another weapon, but rather a strategic tool for China's naval defense and attack.

The evolution of Chinese submarines   

The Yu-10 torpedo was launched from a submarine Type 039B, known in NATO as the Yuan class. This submarine is part of China's conventional submarine fleet, with 17 units currently in operation. The Type 039B is equipped with an advanced air-independent propulsion system (AIP), allowing extended underwater missions without the need to surface.

The latest model in this class, the Type 039C, incorporates considerable improvements, such as greater stealth and noise reduction, making them even more dangerous to enemy ships. Combining the Yu-10 with these submarines creates a powerful deterrent tool, especially against foreign naval forces operating in the Pacific region.

The destructive power of China's secret Yu-10 torpedo

One of the most notable features of the Yu-10, highlighted in the military exercise, is its “wake-homing”. Torpedoes with this technology, such as China's Yu-9 and Russia's Type 53, follow the wake created by a ship's propulsion system to track and strike targets with precision. This method of navigation makes the torpedo highly effective, especially against large vessels such as aircraft carriers.

Os torpedoes “wake-homing” are designed to align with the bubbles in the ship's wake, which allows them to get closer to the stern of the ship, where critical components are usually located. Once aligned correctly, these torpedoes approach from behind and detonate, causing significant damage. This capability makes China's covert torpedo a difficult threat to neutralize and a potent tool in the hands of the PLA Navy.

Yu-10 has destructive power capable of sinking aircraft carriers

The revelation of the Yu-10 as “China’s secret torpedo” raises concerns about the balance of power in the Pacific. According to the Chinese military magazine, the destructive power of this torpedo is so great that even an aircraft carrier could have difficulty avoiding sinking if it were directly hit by it.

This statement underlines the seriousness of the threat that the Yu-10 poses. Even if a target ship is not sunk immediately, the force of the explosion is capable of rendering it inoperable., which can be as catastrophic as the sinking itself in a battle scenario.

Furthermore, the long-range capability of these torpedoes significantly increases the engagement zones of Chinese submarines. With the Yu-10, Submarines can launch long-range attacks while remaining out of enemy detection range and increasing its effectiveness in military operations.

China raises its game in the field of submarine warfare

The Yu-10 torpedo, now revealed to the world, represents a new phase in China's naval capabilities. With its destructive power and advanced technology, it stands out as one of the PLA Navy's main assets. The ability to hit large naval targets, such as aircraft carriers, with precision and force, places this “China's secret torpedo” as a threat in any naval conflict scenario.

For military analysts and naval powers around the world, the Yu-10 is a clear sign that China is upping its game in the field of submarine warfare. And, like any military innovation, this new weapon forces other countries to rethink their strategies and defenses against the Asian giant's growing technological capabilities.