Credit: @ChineseArmy/YouTube
China has unveiled plans for a space carrier that could use unmanned fighter jets capable of firing missiles from the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere.
State media released a concept video of the futuristic Luanniao, the world’s largest warship, which travels through space above all current defensive systems.
China has claimed that the carrier could be operational within 20 to 30 years. However, experts were skeptical about the project and some likened it to a stunt designed to “inspire the Chinese public”.
Resembling a spaceship from a Star Wars movie, the Luanniao will be a large gray triangular aircraft carrier 242 meters long and 684 meters wide. It will have a take-off weight of 120,000 tonnes – significantly more than any similar craft operating today.
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According to state media, the Luanniao will be designed to carry up to 88 unmanned Xuan Nu fighter jets. These will reportedly be highly maneuverable stealth aircraft capable of launching hypersonic missiles, but will be significantly heavier than drones.
If completed, the new spaceship will “surpass almost everyone”, according to Peter Layton, a defense expert and visiting fellow at Australia’s Griffith Asia Institute.
It would be able to fly over surface-to-air missiles and other combat aircraft, he said, adding: “You’re also out of range of weather, generally – and you’re out of range of most defensive systems.”
The Luanniao could also allow Beijing to place it directly on targets and launch missiles at them.
Such capabilities give China a significant advantage, including over Taiwan and in the South China Sea, which could be the scene of a future war against the United States.
Credit: @ChineseArmy/YouTube
The Luanniao is part of China’s wider Nantianmen Project, which translates into South Heavenly Gate.
Developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the project includes a number of ambitious plans to expand the country’s air and space capabilities.
One of the most prominent elements is a sixth generation fighter, known as the Baidi fighter, which will also be able to operate near space. A model of the jet was displayed at the 2024 China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition.
The Luanniao is the latest development in the ongoing space race between the United States and China. Beijing has been investing in the development of rockets and satellites in an effort to push the United States out of the lead and, by some metrics, it is now winning.
Taiwanese coast guard vessels and speed boats simulate a response to a possible conflict with China – Daniel Ceng/Anadolu via Getty Images
In 2024, China successfully launched the Chang’e-6, a robotic spacecraft, which reached the far side of the Moon and returned to Earth with lunar samples.
The Chang’e-7 mission, which aims to find water on the surface of the Moon, is planned for August.
While the US still has core capabilities, its momentum appears to be waning while China’s is on the rise.
The Chang’e-6 landed in the Inner Mongolia desert after a nearly two-month mission
The Luanniao, by far the most ambitious part of the Nantianmen Project, was first conceived more than 10 years ago, but was dismissed by most experts as a fantasy project. For many, it still is.
The technology required for an aircraft to hover at the edge of the Earth’s atmospheric boundary and launch missiles towards the surface does not currently exist. It would require “enormous amounts of fuel” as well as a new type of propulsion system that had yet to be developed, Mr Layton said.
One way in which China can achieve a similar result is by placing the carrier in orbit, similar to a satellite or rocket. However, in orbit the aircraft would be vulnerable to debris, which would destroy it in the event of a crash.
To launch the Luanniao into orbit, China would also need a reusable rocket. She has been working for one for years, but has not been able to reach it until now.
Beijing can look to Elon Musk’s SpaceX reusable rockets for inspiration. However, the country is probably 10 to 15 years away from developing its own, Mr Layton said.
China has claimed that the carrier could be operational within 20 to 30 years
Given the major obstacles surrounding the development of the Luanniao, the timing of Beijing’s announcement is likely to be part of a wider strategy – both at home and abroad.
Mr Layton explained that China used stunts like this to “inspire the Chinese public” and show itself to be at the cutting edge of technological innovation.
He said pushing the narrative around a futuristic spacecraft was part of a larger effort to show its neighbors that it was a major military power.
“For the external audience, it paints the picture that they’re working on technology that the region just can’t aspire to – it’s literally Star Wars stuff,” he added.
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