The mainland plans to develop a spacecraft during the next three decades which will become the ultimate platform for space warfare, state media reported yesterday.
The bold announcement reflected the mainland's increasing confidence in its aerospace technology and the military's ambitions for space, analysts said.
Beijing had launched studies to help it map out the direction of the space programme for the coming two to three decades, the Beijing Youth Daily reported yesterday, quoting scientists involved in China's space programme.
The initial phase will involve conceptual studies aimed at selecting several areas for technological research. Beijing will then pour resources into development and application in these selected domains, said Zhuang Fenggan, director of the China Aerospace Corp's science and technology committee.
Mr Zhuang said he had identified several key areas, including invisibility technology, precision in attacks and reliability of technology, as the main areas for improvement.
Mr Zhuang said the research and development will have military purposes. 'Our aim is to turn [spacecraft] into the world's best weaponry platform for space warfare,' he said. 'If this has dual military and civilian purposes, that is even better.'
