China has tested a military aircraft that can fly four times faster than sound

^{Photo: SCMP}
Specialists from China's Taihang National Laboratory Aerospace Engine Research Center have successfully tested a turbojet engine equipped with artificial intelligence technology. According to the South China Morning Post, it can operate "efficiently and stably" even at speeds of Mach 4 (about 4.9 thousand km / h).

According to the publication, the unnamed engine meets the requirements of "100 percent localization of the supply chain" for military products. Taihang National Laboratory is known for its participation in the production of the Taihang series of aircraft engines installed on China's J-20 fighter jets.

It is noted that the reports of these tests are the first official confirmation that work is underway in the PRC on a military aircraft capable of flying four times faster than sound. The goal of the project is to create a faster and more advanced aircraft than the American SR-71 Blackbird.

The requirement of the Chinese People's Liberation Army that the new aircraft be quite fast, but relatively economical, posed a serious problem for the designers. As a result, Chinese scientists developed an adaptive model that increases engine efficiency - this allows it to "work intelligently" in almost all modes of operation.

In late December 2024, China announced the creation of a prototype jet aircraft capable of reaching hypersonic speeds during flight tests. According to the designers, the prototype aircraft, which has a fairly large fuselage, reached a speed of Mach 6.56 (about 5,033 mph) during a test flight in 2021. The results of the test flight have been kept secret by engineers and Chinese officials until now. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”