China unveils Gara GDF-600 hypersonic aircraft concept capable of launching missiles

China continues to make loud statements in the field of hypersonic technology. At the China Airshow 2024, a concept of a new hypersonic model was shown, which is capable of not only overcoming the limits of conventional speed but also launching its own weapons in flight. Such a "hypersonic carrier aircraft" demonstrates China's ambitions to create an autonomous air complex capable of delivering strikes with ultra-high speed and accuracy.

This concept is called a hypersonic boost-glide vehicle, and its key feature is the ability to launch its own class of missiles during flight. This fundamentally changes the capabilities of strategic and defence aviation, as such a vehicle can cover long distances in a minimum of time and directly perform combat missions.

The main technical characteristics of the GDF-600 are impressive: its maximum launch weight is 5000 kg, of which 1200 kg is the payload. This allows the vehicle to carry cluster submunitions, which are projectiles capable of delivering massive point attacks on enemy territory. With a speed of up to 7 Mach (approximately 8,500 km/h), the Gara GDF-600 can cover a distance of 200 to 600 km, reaching a maximum trajectory height of 40 km.

The project is still under development and testing, but has already attracted considerable interest from military experts. The purpose of the hypersonic vehicle is to reach speeds several times faster than the speed of sound, avoiding most existing air defences. If this vehicle proves to be effective, China will become one of the leaders in hypersonic technology, which is currently under close scrutiny by the defence ministries of many countries.

Sources: The Warzone, @MuxelAero