Before getting the military experts to talk, we must first understand what Nantianmen really is. Launched in 2017, this project presents itself as a vast reflection on the future of air and space warfare. It was developed by AVIC Global Culture Communication, a subsidiary of the public giant Aviation Industry Corporation of China, with this objective: to imagine a global defense system integrating planes, drones, orbital platforms and emerging technologies.
XXL machines between sky and space
The Nantianmen project is not limited to a single device, but an entire futuristic arsenal. The most spectacular undoubtedly remains the Luanniao, an aerospace aircraft carrier of dizzying dimensions: 242 meters long, 684 meters wide and a mass of 100,000 tonnes. In the imagination of the project, this behemoth could carry up to 88 Xuannv combat drones, which are capable of operating both in the atmosphere and in low orbit, armed with hypersonic missiles or particle cannons.
Another centerpiece: the Baidi, or “White Emperor”. This fighter is presented as the main combat platform of Nantianmen. Its design plays the spectacular card with wings with variable geometry, so-called “total” stealth and a modular architecture allowing you to quickly change missions. Notable feature: it is designed to be piloted or fully autonomous, while serving as a command center for swarms of drones.
More recently, a more “down to earth” device – so to speak – has attracted attention: the Zihuo, nicknamed “Purple Fire”. Unveiled at a trade show in Tianjin, this vertical takeoff and landing concept fulfills all kinds of missions, from combat to rescue, with a cruising speed estimated between 700 and 800 km/h.
What if this somewhat crazy project became reality? In a program broadcast at the beginning of the year on the military channel CCTV, a much more direct speech was made on the air. A military analyst attached to the Chinese Air Force asserts that the concepts of Nantianmen reflect “ expectations for aerospace and space superiority ».
According to him, the technologies put forward (hypersonic flight, dual-mode air-space propulsion, stealth by metamaterials, autonomous coordination of drones, decision-making artificial intelligence or even directed energy weapons) are no longer a mere dream. “ The question is not whether they will see the light of day, but which ones will be done first, and when “, he explains.
There is no indication that these devices will enter service tomorrow. But by changing tone in this way, state television is preparing minds for a total or partial realization of the concepts of Nantianmen.
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