China unveils ‘Star Wars’ spaceship

Credit: @ChineseArmy/ YouTube

China has unveiled plans for a space carrier capable of deploying unmanned fighter jets capable of firing missiles from the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere.

State media released a concept video of the future Luaniao, the world’s largest warship, traveling through space above all current defensive systems.

China has claimed that this carrier will be operational within 20 to 30 years. However, experts were skeptical about the project and some compared it to a stunt designed to “inspire the Chinese public”.

Luaniao will be a giant gray triangular aircraft carrier measuring 242 meters long and 684 meters wide, resembling a spaceship from a Star Wars movie. It will have a take-off weight of 120,000 tonnes – significantly more than any similar craft in operation today.

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According to state media, the Luaniao is designed to carry 88 unmanned Xuan Nu fighter jets. These will reportedly be highly maneuverable stealth aircraft capable of launching hypersonic missiles, but will be much heavier than drones.

According to Peter Layton, a defense expert and visiting fellow at Australia’s Griffith Asia Institute, if completed, the new spaceship will “take everyone out of the loop”.

It will be able to fly above surface-to-air missiles and other combat aircraft, he added: “You’re out of range of weather, generally speaking — and you’re out of range of most defensive systems.”

Luaniao could also allow Beijing to hover directly over a target and launch a missile.

Such capabilities would also give China a significant advantage in Taiwan and the South China Sea, which could become the scene of future wars against the United States.

Credit: @ChineseArmy/YouTube

Luaniao is part of China’s wider Nantianmen project, which translates to South Heavenly Gate.

Developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the project encompasses several ambitious plans to expand the country’s air and space capabilities.

One of the most prominent elements is the sixth-generation fighter, called the Baidi Fighter, which will be capable of operating in near space as well. A model of the jet was displayed at the 2024 China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition.

Luaniao is the latest development in the ongoing space race between the US and China. Beijing is investing in rocket and satellite development in an effort to push the US out of leadership, and by some metrics it is winning now.

In 2024, China successfully launched Chang’e-6, a robotic spacecraft that 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 moon’s surface, is scheduled to launch in August.

The US still has leadership potential, but its momentum appears to be slowing as China rises.

Luaniao, the most ambitious part of the Nantianmen project, was first envisioned more than 10 years ago, but many experts dismissed it as a fantasy project. For many, it still is.

The technology required to maneuver an aircraft near the Earth’s atmospheric boundary and launch a missile toward the surface does not currently exist. It would require “massive amounts of fuel” and a new type of propulsion system that had yet to be developed, Mr. Layton said.

One way China can achieve similar results is by putting a carrier into orbit, like a satellite or a rocket. However, the aircraft in orbit would be vulnerable to debris, which would destroy it in the event of a collision.

To launch the Luaniao into orbit, China will also need a reusable rocket. It has been working on one side for years but it has not been achieved yet.

Beijing can look to Elon Musk’s SpaceX reusable rockets for inspiration. However, the country is probably 10 to 15 years away from its development, Mr Layton said.

Given the major constraints surrounding Luaniao’s development, the timing of Beijing’s announcement is likely to be part of a broader strategy both at home and abroad.

Mr Layton explained that China used stunts like this to “inspire the Chinese people” and show itself to be on the cutting edge of technological innovation.

Pushing the narrative around the future spacecraft is part of a larger effort to show its neighbors that it is a leading military power, he said.

“For an outside audience, it paints a picture that they’re working on technology that the field can’t aspire to — it’s literally Star Wars stuff,” he added.

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