China Unveils New Classes of Hypersonic Drones

<p >Footage showing the testing of new classes of Chinese hypersonic drones has shed new light on the country’s efforts to modernise its unmanned surveillance capabilities. The aircraft in question appear to be further developments of <a href=" >the MD-22</a> hypersonic testbed first unveiled in 2022, and are marked MD-19, MD-21, and MD-2. All the aircraft have the same general layout as the MD-22, with commonalities including their wedge-shaped main fuselages, delta wings, and twin canted vertical tails. The drones are expected to be launched from other aircraft, including H-6M carriers, for surveillance flights into well defended enemy territory, which makes their extreme altitudes and hypersonic speeds important to increase survivability. This mirrors U.S. and Soviet development of the SR-71 and <a href=" target="_blank">MiG-25R/RB </a>Mach 3+ surveillance aircraft during the Cold War which <a href=" target="_blank">proved to be highly survivable</a> in their time. China has since pulled ahead to currently field the world’s only known hypersonic aircraft. </p><p ><img src=" ></p><p >Pentagon files publicised on April 19, 2023 <a href=" >revealed</a> that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had "almost certainly" operationalised the <a href=" >world’s first hypersonic military aircraft</a> the WZ-8 surveillance drone. The aircraft were deployed in western Anhui province under the Eastern Theatre Command, positioning them to respond to contingencies either in the Taiwan Strait or on the Korean Peninsula. China’s lead over competitors in gaining operational experience is expected to help inform future investments in fielding such platforms, with the WZ-8 likely to have multiple successors potentially with a wider range of roles. While surveillance satellites have predictable courses allowing them to be evaded, and are expected to be <a href=" >primary targets</a> in the event of open hostilities between major powers, reconnaissance aircraft are much more difficult to locate, can be hidden in underground hangers, and can fly along any trajectory towards their target unexpectedly. This allows such aircraft to provide a valuable secondary high altitude reconnaissance capability in the event of a conflict between major powers.</p>