By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-11-11 13:52:49 | Updated at 2024-11-18 04:33:28
6 days ago
A model showing what a next-generation fighter might look like will go on show at China’s biggest air show this week as the country looks to gain an edge in the race to develop futuristic warplanes.
The Baidi, or White Emperor, is a project from the state-owned aerospace and defence conglomerate AVIC to develop what state media has described as an “integrated space-air fighter”.
The design concept includes the ability to fly at supersonic speeds and break through the Earth’s atmosphere to operate in space, according to Voice of China, an arm of state broadcaster CCTV.
Researchers are considering ways to develop the plane as part of the Nantianmen Project, a research and education initiative dedicated to future technology.
A life-size model of the Baidi will feature at the Zhuhai air show, which starts in Guangdong province on Tuesday, a day after the 75th anniversary of the formation of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.
The event, also known as the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, aims to highlight the progress made by China’s aerospace industry, with a particular focus on next-generation warplanes.
