In a remarkable military development, leaked technical documents revealed that China is working on developing a new stealth cruise missile, specifically designed to fit into the internal weapons stores of its fifth-generation stealth fighters, the J-20 and J-35.
According to what the “Defense Blog” website reported from documents circulated on the “Weibo” platform, the length of the missile does not exceed 4 meters, and its diameter is less than 0.85 meters. These dimensions were adopted to fit the limited spaces inside the internal weapons stores, in order to ensure the preservation of the aircraft’s stealth property.
The design is based on a relatively traditional structure, with a fixed wing, a compact structure, and a V-shaped tail, along with serrated exhaust nozzles aimed at reducing radar reflections, as well as an advanced cooling system that reduces the thermal footprint by pumping cool air into the exhaust.
This design allows the missile to fly at a subsonic speed of up to about Mach 0.71, and with a range of up to 1,330 kilometers, which enhances its ability to carry out long-distance strikes while reducing the chances of detection.
Experts highlight that choosing the subsonic speed is part of a stealth strategy, as this speed reduces the thermal and acoustic signature compared to hypersonic missiles.
In comparison with the American AGM-158C missile, which is considered one of the most prominent low-footprint anti-ship weapons, the latter faces a challenge represented by its large size, which forces it to be carried externally on F-35 and F-22 aircraft, which weakens their stealth capabilities.
On the other hand, the new Chinese design allows the missile to be carried inside the plane, maintaining complete concealment until the moment of launch, which may give Beijing tactical superiority in advanced naval combat scenarios.
It is also estimated that each J-20 aircraft – of which China has about 200 units – can carry two missiles of this type, which enhances its ability to carry out precise strikes from outside the range of hostile defenses, especially against aircraft carrier groups.
This development reflects an accelerating Chinese trend to enhance its capabilities in the field of stealth warfare, in light of an escalating technological race with the United States, especially in the field of advanced air systems.
