CHENGDU, China - A Chinese start-up is aiming to develop a supersonic drone capable of reaching speeds four times the speed of sound. Lingkong Tianxing Technology, the company behind the project, unveiled the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), named Cuantianhou or “Soaring Stone Monkey,” at a news conference in Chengdu, the capital city of Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Jijo Malayil writes for Interesting Engineering.
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31 January 2025 - Lingkong Tianxing developed the drone as part of its broader push to create a supersonic passenger jet. Prototype testing is expected by 2030. The UAV, which can reach Mach 4.2 at an altitude of 20 km, is scheduled for its maiden flight next year. It measures seven meters in length, weighs 1.5 metric tons, and is powered by two detonation engines.
In October 2024, Lingkong Tianxing tested a commercial prototype capable of nearly twice the Concorde’s speed. The firm is accelerating research on its Yunxing supersonic aircraft, advancing its full-scale prototype test from 2027 to 2026 due to rapid progress in aerodynamics, heat resistance, and control systems.
"Supersonic passenger aircraft is making significant breakthroughs and a strong comeback... it has great potential to provide more economical and reliable high-speed flight services in the coming years," said Deng Fan, chief engineer of Sichuan Lingkong Tianxing Technology Co.
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Military + Aerospace Electronics
