항공무장 중국, 극초음속 공대공미사일을 개발중?

[위종민]

중국 허난성 뤄양의 중국 항공기탑재 미사일 연구소(CAMA; China Airborne Missile Academy )가 극초음속 공대공미사일의 고온 풍동테스트를 마쳤다고 합니다. 1,200도 이상의 온도에 장시간 노출시켜 마하 9의 속도로 장시간 비행하는 것과 비슷한 효과를 구현했다고 하네요. 

발사된 뒤 우주에 가까운 고도까지 상승한 뒤에 예측할 수 없이 하강하는 궤도를 그린다고 하고, 이 미사일이 B-21에 위협이 될 거라고 하는데 이게 중국군의 자평인지 뉴스 사이트의 개인적인 평가인지 모르겠습니다. 저런 극초음속 활공탄이 그리는 비탄도 궤도를 첸쉐썬 궤도(Qian Xuesen trajectory)라고 부르나보네요. 

China's air-to-air hypersonic US B-21 bomber's kryptonite - Asia Times

China's air-to-air hypersonic US B-21 bomber's kryptonite - Asia Times

China’s air-to-air hypersonic US B-21 bomber’s kryptonite

Secretive next-level weapon takes out target resembling B-21 stealth bomber and companion drone in a Chinese simulation

by Gabriel HonradaJanuary 23, 2025

A J-20 Chinese fighter showing missiles in its internal weapons bay. Photo: CGTN

China’s hypersonic air-to-air missiles, designed specifically to shoot down US stealth bombers, signal a potential seismic shift in the future of air combat, one that could dramatically reshape the Indo-Pacific’s balance of power.

Chinese scientists have confirmed the existence of a new hypersonic air-to-air missile, which has reportedly undergone extreme heat-resistance testing to meet the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s stringent performance requirements, according to a recent South China Morning Post (SCMP) report.

Developed by the China Airborne Missile Academy (CAMA) in Luoyang, Henan province, the new missile poses a significant threat to US military aircraft, including the B-21 stealth bomber.

According to SCMP, the final eval‎uations of full-scale missile prototypes were conducted in an arc-heated wind tunnel capable of generating hot air flows reaching tens of thousands of degrees Celsius.

This process ensures the missile can withstand prolonged exposure to temperatures exceeding 1,200 degrees Celsius, equivalent to flying at Mach 9 for an extended period. The wind tunnel, primarily used for challenging space missions, operates continuously for an hour or more, though its enormous power consumption makes it costly.

The missile’s high speed and heat endurance make it a formidable weapon capable of outmaneuvering current US military aircraft. Highlighting its capabilities, SCMP noted that, in a simulated war game, China’s hypersonic air-to-air missiles capable of reaching Mach 6 shot down a target resembling a US B-21 bomber and its companion drone.

Latest stories

Why China’s port play has Trump so up in arms

Trump already changing tack on ending Ukraine war

Trump’s Paris Agreement withdrawal not such a bad thing

The missiles used a solid fuel “pulse engine” for adjustable power output, enabling them to ascend to near space and descend unpredictably along a “Qian Xuesen trajectory.” This capability surpasses the capabilities of current hypersonic weapons, which struggle to maintain control at high speeds.

The B-21 is critical for countering a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, leveraging its stealth, range, and payload capabilities to operate in highly contested areas.

A March 2023 report by Mark Gunzinger for the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies notes that the B-21 would target essential objectives in the initial phases of a conflict, such as People’s Liberation Army (PLA) amphibious assault ships, missile launchers and airbases.

These targets, crucial for China’s offensive actions, likely fall under the PLA’s anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) framework, underscoring the importance of the B-21’s stealth for its effectiveness.

Gunzinger also highlights the B-21’s ability to carry various munitions, including small precision-guided bombs, to strike mobile and well-defended targets effectively. Its long-range capability allows operation from distant bases like Guam and Australia, reducing dependence on forward-deployed forces vulnerable to PLA attacks.

Given the B-21’s critical role, China’s stealth fighters, equipped with hypersonic air-to-air missiles, could significantly threaten its operations. The J-20’s large internal capacity, long range, and supercruise capability suggest it is designed as a long-range interceptor and air-to-surface attack platform.

Similarly, the new-generation J-36, a tailless delta-shaped stealth aircraft, combines high speed, long range, heavy payload capabilities and advanced sensors. These features enable it to deploy long-range air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles against enemy bases, ships and critical support units while maintaining stealth, according to Bill Sweetman for The Strategist.

While the US F-22 and F-35 may rival China’s J-20 and J-36, their performance comparison remains speculative due to limited information. Kris Osborn, writing for 1945 in November 2024, suggests that any contest between these aircraft would likely hinge on the quality of their mission systems, sensor fidelity, computing power, weapon range and fire control capabilities.

China’s apparent successful development of hypersonic air-to-air missiles and advanced fighters contrasts sharply with the troubled progress of the US Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter program. The NGAD’s future remains uncertain as the US Air Force paused its contract award due to escalating costs, now estimated at US$300 million per aircraft.

Additional challenges include budgetary competition with the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and B-21 programs, debates over prioritizing manned fighters or distributed platforms with unmanned assets, and whether to produce lower-cost, upgradeable aircraft instead of singular expensive fighters.

Sign up for one of our free newsletters

• The Daily ReportStart your day right with Asia Times' top stories
• AT Weekly ReportA weekly roundup of Asia Times' most-read stories

Sign up

China’s simulation of hypersonic air-to-air missile capabilities, including a simulated B-21 shootdown, also underscores the impact of beyond-visual-range (BVR) capabilities.

These advancements shift air-to-air engagements from close-range dogfights to long-distance precision strikes. Stealth, advanced radars and long-range missiles allow aircraft to detect and engage opponents without being detected themselves.

The China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) emphasized in a July 2024 report that China’s development of long-range air-to-air missiles aligns with its focus on countering US and allied air dominance in the Indo-Pacific.

Missiles such as the PL-15 and PL-17 are designed to outrange US counterparts like the AIM-120, targeting critical enablers such as tankers and airborne early warning and control systems (AWACS) to degrade adversary power projection.

According to CASI, the PLAAF integrates these advanced weapons with aircraft like the J-16 and J-20, enhancing their reach and effectiveness. This capability supports China’s broader A2/AD strategy to neutralize aerial threats and establish local air superiority over contested regions, including the Taiwan Strait and the First Island Chain.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3294958/china-runs-final-tests-hypersonic-air-air-missile-extreme-mars-mission-tunnel (유료) 

China runs hypersonic air-to-air missile tests in extreme Mars mission tunnel

[백선호]

우주에서 내려다 보면 모든 스텔스기들이 다 위험에 빠질 수도 있긴 하겠습니다. 바로 위에서 내려다 보는 경우까지 RCS를 줄이기에는 면적이 너무 크니...

[Black Knights (윤재산)]

플라즈마 전리층같은 레이더 엔지니어들 골아프게 할대기상단의 복잡한 것들은 어찌 극복할지 모르겠네요 vlo로 맞추어놓은 각도가 아니라 탐지에 유리하지만 눈 입장에서도 골치아픈 조건같아서

[백선호]

우주에 있는 레이다 위성에서 쏜 전파가 대기를 통과하며 휘는 문제죠?

[Black Knights (윤재산)]

레이더 위성이야 그렇다치더라도 시커는 앞의 공기가 플라즈마 화하거나 가열된 상태라 어렵지 않을지. 타 플랫폼에서 대리 유도라면 이야기가 다르겠습니다만

[위종민]

중간유도야 밖에서 데이터 입력해준다 쳐도, 이동표적 때리는 대공이나 대함용 극초음속 활공탄들은 최종유도시에 속도가 느려질 수도 있겠네요.