https://www.scmp.com/rss/521885/feed China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is a prominent state-owned enterprise headquartered in Beijing, China, operating within the aerospace and defence industry. CASC specialises in the research, design, manufacture, and launch of a wide array of space systems, including satellites, launch vehicles (such as the Long March series), manned spacecraft, and strategic and tactical missiles. As the primary contractor for China’s space programme, CASC is instrumental in advancing... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Victoria Bela Victoria Bela Chinese scientists have created an all-weather electrolyte that could improve lithium batteries, allowing them to operate more efficiently at room temperature and in extreme environments. The research team from Shanghai and Tianjin said batteries made using the hydrofluorocarbon-based electrolyte had more than double the energy density of those made with traditional electrolytes when operating at room temperature. They said the batteries could also operate efficiently at minus 70 degrees Celsius... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348185/chinese-lithium-battery-electrolyte-could-double-ev-range-and-run-extreme-cold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348185/chinese-lithium-battery-electrolyte-could-double-ev-range-and-run-extreme-cold?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 06:00:14 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik The profile of one of China’s top nuclear weapons scientists has been scrubbed from the website of the nation’s engineering brains trust. Zhao Xiangeng, 72, was a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), the nation’s highest academic body for engineering science and technology, but his profile page has disappeared from the CAE’s site. It is not known when the page was removed, but Chinese media reports noted the change on Saturday. Similar online references to other CAE academicians,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346672/top-nuclear-radar-and-missile-experts-vanish-chinese-academy-engineering-site?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346672/top-nuclear-radar-and-missile-experts-vanish-chinese-academy-engineering-site?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:44:43 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong A private company in China providing intelligence-gathering services to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) claims to have intercepted radio signals from American stealth bombers that struck Iran on March 1 as part of the US-Israel military action. Jingan Technology, a defence technology firm based in east China’s Hangzhou, also asserted that it detected signals linked to US military activities well before tensions with Iran escalated, using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse early... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346200/chinese-firm-claims-it-intercepted-b-2-radio-signal-during-us-strike-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346200/chinese-firm-claims-it-intercepted-b-2-radio-signal-during-us-strike-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Just days ahead of the US-Israeli air strikes on Iran, a news report suggested that Beijing was close to selling supersonic cruise missiles to Tehran – a move that could significantly boost the Islamic Republic’s capacity to counter US aircraft carriers. Before the world could work out whether game-changing Chinese missiles really would feature in an Iranian conflict against US forces, Beijing firmly denied the report, published by Reuters on February 24. Citing six sources, Reuters reported... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346026/what-if-iran-really-did-buy-export-variant-chinas-yj-12-supersonic-missile?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346026/what-if-iran-really-did-buy-export-variant-chinas-yj-12-supersonic-missile?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China has lowered the operational cost of an anti-drone high-power microwave (HPM) system to just a few yuan per shot, making it a cost-effective option for policing applications, according to a state media report. The launch of an urban police anti-drone swarm microwave defence system marked a further reduction in cost and increased accessibility of HPM technology as it expanded into civilian applications, state broadcaster CCTV said on Saturday. Developed by state-owned 081 Electronics Group,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346106/how-cheaply-can-china-fend-drone-swarm-its-latest-microwave-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346106/how-cheaply-can-china-fend-drone-swarm-its-latest-microwave-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:00:11 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong New Tsinghua University data this week reveals a nearly 20 per cent rise in graduates joining the manufacturing and energy sectors, signalling a major shift in career pursuits in China. The sharp rise seen in Tsinghua’s class of 2025 indicates a renewed interest in traditional industrial sectors among top-tier talent as well as the pull of national strategic priorities. As some of China’s brightest minds enter these fields, the country is poised to intensify its competitive challenge to Western... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3345299/manufacturing-talent-boom-why-chinas-smartest-students-are-factory-bound?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3345299/manufacturing-talent-boom-why-chinas-smartest-students-are-factory-bound?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 04:00:14 +0000 Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage As France’s influence fades and with Russian weapons in limited supply, a “military vacuum” has been created in West and Central Africa that China is uniquely positioned to fill, according to analysts. In a January report in the official journal China Military to Civilian, arms supplier China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation said Beijing was leveraging its reputation for “cost-effective technology and flexible financing” in Africa. This follows a wave of military coups across... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342903/how-military-vacuum-west-and-central-africa-opened-new-markets-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342903/how-military-vacuum-west-and-central-africa-opened-new-markets-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 04:00:11 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang With jets forming complex formations overhead and displays on the ground of the world’s most advanced fighters, manufacturers from the US, China, South Korea and Turkey gathered in Riyadh to pursue deals of financial and strategic weight. China exhibited model J-10CE and J-35A fighter jets at the World Defence Show, along with Wing Loong and Rainbow series drones which have been making inroads into the Middle East. Analysts noted that while Chinese drones were continuing to attract buyers,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343272/chinas-middle-east-arms-edge-overshadowed-turkey-and-south-korea-riyadh-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343272/chinas-middle-east-arms-edge-overshadowed-turkey-and-south-korea-riyadh-show?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:00:15 +0000 Victoria Bela,Shi Huang Victoria Bela,Shi Huang Elon Musk has pivoted from his long-standing focus on Mars, announcing an ambitious plan to set up a “self-growing city” on the moon in less than a decade. The plan could see Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX, competing for prime space with China’s planned International Lunar Research Station, which Beijing aims to establish by 2035. While it is possible both the United States and China could have bases on the moon within a decade, a space expert said it would require massive infrastructure that... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3343083/will-musks-moon-pivot-put-spacex-collision-course-chinas-lunar-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3343083/will-musks-moon-pivot-put-spacex-collision-course-chinas-lunar-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:09:50 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang China has showcased a range of uncrewed platforms – including a drone for anti-submarine warfare – at the World Defence Show in Saudi Arabia, as demand grows in the region for autonomous systems. More than 770 exhibitors from 76 countries are taking part in the defence show in Riyadh, which opened on Sunday and runs until Thursday. China has one of the biggest pavilions at the show, and a full-scale model of the Wing Loong-X unmanned aerial vehicle is among the Chinese drones drawing... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342898/chinese-drone-anti-submarine-warfare-among-systems-saudi-defence-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342898/chinese-drone-anti-submarine-warfare-among-systems-saudi-defence-show?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Regina Ip Regina Ip At this time of year, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s top priority is finalising the Hong Kong government’s budget for 2026-27, balancing requests for incentives and welfare against calls for a return to fiscal prudence. For decades, budget speeches have followed a familiar structure: a review of past performance, near- and medium-term forecasts, support measures for industries and social services, a report on the government’s fiscal position and financial estimates for the coming year.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342610/hong-kongs-budget-should-move-city-towards-inspirational-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342610/hong-kongs-budget-should-move-city-towards-inspirational-development?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Elon Musk’s SpaceX has been sounding out multiple Chinese solar suppliers in recent weeks, industry insiders and companies confirmed, as the world’s richest man advances his vision for space-based data centres powered by constant solar energy – drawing fresh attention to China’s solar supply chain. The discussions, which have not yet resulted in confirmed orders, triggered a rally in shares of several solar-related companies earlier this week, before sentiment cooled on Thursday. Analysts and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3342557/space-computing-push-elon-musks-spacex-shines-beam-chinas-solar-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3342557/space-computing-push-elon-musks-spacex-shines-beam-chinas-solar-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 22:00:19 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Beijing’s new hybrid-powered unmanned transport aircraft has completed its maiden flight, a development one analyst said could be a military “game changer” in the Taiwan Strait by helping supply elite frontline troops. On Tuesday, state broadcaster CCTV described the CH YH-1000S as “the world’s first hybrid-powered unmanned transport aircraft” and said it had completed its maiden flight on Sunday at an airport in the southwestern city of Chongqing. “[The drone] carried a high-powered hybrid... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342435/could-chinas-first-hybrid-transport-drone-prove-game-changer-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342435/could-chinas-first-hybrid-transport-drone-prove-game-changer-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 04:02:44 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang The US defence secretary during President Donald Trump’s first term, James Mattis, repeatedly warned that China would revert to a Ming dynasty-style model, projecting its strong military, technological and economic influence globally. At the time, his views were widely questioned by mainstream academics as too aggressive. A decade ago, China still lagged far behind the United States. But Mattis underestimated China’s ambitions. On January 29, China announced the official launch of a national... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3342211/ming-dynasty-guide-galaxy-china-names-2100-space-plan-after-1637-book?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3342211/ming-dynasty-guide-galaxy-china-names-2100-space-plan-after-1637-book?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 07:26:08 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou China has cancelled almost all of its rocket launches at the country’s busiest space port after two failures at other sites and signs of a long-awaited lift-off for a lunar supercarrier. The Xiaoxiang Morning Herald reported on Friday that nearly all the rocket launches scheduled next month for the Wenchang space centre in the southern province of Hainan had been cancelled. “Only the test flight for a new type of rocket on February 11 [remains],” the Changsha-based newspaper quoted a space port... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341113/china-cancels-rocket-launches-after-failures-will-long-march-10a-still-lift?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341113/china-cancels-rocket-launches-after-failures-will-long-march-10a-still-lift?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Victoria Bela,Stephen Chen Victoria Bela,Stephen Chen Four Chinese groups are racing to build global satellite communications infrastructure to challenge the considerable head start made by US tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink. The two leaders for China so far are the central-government-backed GuoWang and Shanghai-backed Qianfan. They have the most satellites in orbit and plans to eventually deploy more than 10,000 apiece. Carmaker Geely’s Geespace also has satellites in space. The fourth group, Hongqing Technology, 48 per cent owned by... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china-future-tech/aerospace/article/3340638/chinese-rivals-musks-starlink-wrestle-rocket-constraints?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china-future-tech/aerospace/article/3340638/chinese-rivals-musks-starlink-wrestle-rocket-constraints?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 04:45:12 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela In a historic blow to its space programme, China suffered two rocket launch failures in a single day for the first time over the weekend. While Saturday’s failed launches gained immediate attention on social media, with some describing the day as “Black Saturday”, space observers said the setbacks were part of the growing pains the country’s rapidly developing aerospace industry would inevitably experience. They also drew parallels with similar problems Elon Musk’s firm SpaceX had experienced,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3340463/china-suffers-unprecedented-double-rocket-launch-failures-single-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3340463/china-suffers-unprecedented-double-rocket-launch-failures-single-day?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 14:00:17 +0000 Emiliano Martínez Viademonte Emiliano Martínez Viademonte A tiny but destructive invader is threatening South America, and Uruguay’s iconic palm trees are on the front line. Since 2022, the National Emergency System in coordination with agricultural agencies and with operational support from the air force, has struggled to contain the red palm weevil outbreak, prompting them to call scientists to help. Experts from the Technological University of Uruguay (UTEC) stepped in with an innovative detection strategy using drones and aerial imaging, but... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3340156/how-can-china-help-uruguay-battle-beetles-threatening-invade-south-america?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3340156/how-can-china-help-uruguay-battle-beetles-threatening-invade-south-america?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:00:25 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong A powerful aerospace simulation tool developed by Chinese researchers may have exposed potential vulnerabilities in the design of the United States’ most advanced stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider. The “all-in-one” PADJ-X software system, based on adjoint optimisation technology, was unveiled last month in a paper published by the peer-reviewed Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica. The system, which may be the first fully integrated, multidisciplinary platform for stealth aircraft design, uses... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3338902/chinas-stealth-design-software-padj-x-finds-potential-flaws-b-21-bomber-configuration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3338902/chinas-stealth-design-software-padj-x-finds-potential-flaws-b-21-bomber-configuration?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 04:00:12 +0000 Victoria Bela,Holly Chik Victoria Bela,Holly Chik The Long March 12A, China’s first state-owned reusable rocket, made its debut launch on Tuesday morning but the recovery of the first stage was a failure. It marked China’s second failed bid this month to return an orbital-class booster to Earth, a feat that has so far only been achieved by the United States. The second stage of the rocket entered its predetermined orbit after its launch at 10am local time, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. The reusable rocket, designed by the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3337415/chinas-reusable-rocket-ambitions-experience-second-setback-same-month?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3337415/chinas-reusable-rocket-ambitions-experience-second-setback-same-month?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 02:40:06 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China’s latest long-endurance stealth unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the CH-7, has completed its maiden flight, further expanding Beijing’s rapidly growing arsenal of autonomous weapons. State broadcaster CCTV said on Monday that China’s new high-altitude, high-speed, long-endurance CH-7 had recently completed its first flight. The drone offered long endurance, stealth and high cruising speed, meeting the needs of ground observation, data support and communication under complex conditions, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336520/chinas-latest-stealth-endurance-drone-ch-7-completes-maiden-flight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336520/chinas-latest-stealth-endurance-drone-ch-7-completes-maiden-flight?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 14:00:10 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela China’s first reusable rocket, the Zhuque-3, launched for the first time on Wednesday and successfully reached orbit, but efforts to recover the first stage failed after it crashed near the planned recovery site. The United States is still the only country in the world to successfully return an orbital-class booster, though China is still vying for the second spot with other upcoming launches. The reusable rocket, designed by the Beijing-based commercial space company LandSpace, was launched... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3335004/chinas-first-reusable-rocket-zhuque-3-makes-maiden-voyage-recovery-attempt-fails?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3335004/chinas-first-reusable-rocket-zhuque-3-makes-maiden-voyage-recovery-attempt-fails?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 05:06:21 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China’s second fifth-generation fighter jet, the J-35, could find buyers in the Middle East as demand grows for advanced stealth aircraft in the region – though its capabilities remain unknown, according to analysts. China, the United States and Russia are the only countries making fifth-generation fighter jets, and all three showcased their aircraft at last week’s Dubai Air Show. A model of the J-35 – made by China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (Catic) and with a design... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334494/china-takes-us-and-russia-it-touts-j-35-fighter-jet-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334494/china-takes-us-and-russia-it-touts-j-35-fighter-jet-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Stephen Chen Stephen Chen Over 2,000 years ago, in a secluded bath chamber along the banks of the Nile, Queen Cleopatra of Egypt may have reached for an unlikely luxury: a fibrous, spongelike gourd – the loofah. This porous plant was prized by ancient Egyptian royalty as a natural exfoliant, a symbol of purity and refinement. Light as a feather, yet strong and intricately structured, the loofah scrubbed away impurities – both physical and spiritual – in rituals that blended hygiene with holiness. Today, this unassuming... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3334229/not-just-scrub-how-cleopatras-bath-loofah-may-help-pla-jets-vanish-radar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3334229/not-just-scrub-how-cleopatras-bath-loofah-may-help-pla-jets-vanish-radar?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:00:12 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China’s aerospace manufacturers have become a growing presence at overseas air shows as the country seeks to expand its arms sales abroad, bolstered by technological advances in the defence and aviation industries. More than 1,500 companies took part in this year’s Dubai Airshow, the largest such show in the Middle East. They included around 80 Chinese companies, such as China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (Catic). Catic is the international arms sales subsidiary and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333716/chinas-aerospace-giants-seek-boost-arms-sales-abroad-global-air-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333716/chinas-aerospace-giants-seek-boost-arms-sales-abroad-global-air-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 12:00:09 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi An angular F-35 fighter jet penetrates the bright blue sky over a dusty desert, its engines roaring as it goes through a series of high-speed, gravity-defying turns and high-G manoeuvres before disappearing over the horizon. About an hour later, another aircraft appears, this time a Russian Su-57 with a blended-wing design and slightly deeper engine noise that also displays its aerobatics and speed, showcasing its supersonic cruising ability before returning to the runway. These two flights on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333538/china-us-russia-rivalry-middle-east-stealth-fighter-sales-show-dubai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333538/china-us-russia-rivalry-middle-east-stealth-fighter-sales-show-dubai?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 12:00:18 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China is offering a glimpse of some of its latest drones and fighter jets at the Middle East’s biggest air show this week, seizing an opportunity to promote the country’s aviation products in the region. Among those displaying their advanced aircraft at the Dubai Air Show is China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (Catic), a major state-owned Chinese defence company. Its offerings include a full-scale model of the Wing Loong-X unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), an export variant... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333137/china-displays-latest-uav-and-fighter-jets-middle-easts-largest-air-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333137/china-displays-latest-uav-and-fighter-jets-middle-easts-largest-air-show?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 04:00:17 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen As companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin make headlines for sending non-astronauts into space on pricey private tours, a Chinese state firm is expected to unveil its own space tourism programme this week, joining other domestic enterprises as they attempt to make headway in the rapidly emerging – and US-dominated – market. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC), the primary contractor for the country's space programme, will unveil details of its inaugural tour at the China Hi-tech... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332658/chinas-chief-space-contractor-readies-plans-tourism-programme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332658/chinas-chief-space-contractor-readies-plans-tourism-programme?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:00:20 +0000 Paul Buck Paul Buck Elon Musk’s SpaceX faces a looming challenge from China as the nation’s space industry races to develop reusable rockets. At least seven Chinese start-ups and two state-owned developers are preparing to blast reusable rockets into orbit, posing a potential threat to SpaceX’s dominant grip on the commercial satellite launch market. The Musk company ushered in the reusable rocket era a decade ago by successfully returning a Falcon 9 rocket stage to the launch site. Reusable rockets are key to... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3332607/musks-spacex-faces-china-threat-reusable-rocket-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3332607/musks-spacex-faces-china-threat-reusable-rocket-race?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 07:20:10 +0000 Stephen Chen Stephen Chen China’s aerospace industry is undergoing a quiet but potentially game-changing manufacturing revolution that could make rockets and satellites as efficiently produced as cars, according to scientists involved in the project. Through a painful structural reform, the country’s state-owned space sector is adopting a new production philosophy known as the “final assembly pull” system, a model inspired by lean manufacturing principles seen in the car industry. This emerging system aims to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3326060/space-pull-system-chinas-industrial-revolution-make-rockets-and-satellites-cars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3326060/space-pull-system-chinas-industrial-revolution-make-rockets-and-satellites-cars?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Sep 2025 14:00:07 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin The Chinese reusable rocket race is heating up, with two start-ups and a state-owned developer all aiming for orbital launches by year’s end. If successful, they could help to ease a growing mismatch between China’s limited rocket supply and surging demand. On Monday, Beijing-based Space Pioneer completed a full-scale test of the first stage of its 72 metre (236 feet) partially reusable Tianlong-3 rocket from an offshore platform in the eastern province of Shandong. The 35-second burn involved... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3325747/chinas-large-reusable-tianlong-3-rocket-passes-1000-tonne-thrust-major-exam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3325747/chinas-large-reusable-tianlong-3-rocket-passes-1000-tonne-thrust-major-exam?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 04:00:12 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The futuristic drones, intercontinental missiles and laser and microwave systems that rolled through central Beijing on Wednesday reflect not only the intensity of China’s military modernisation drive but also advances in the research and manufacturing ecosystem that has sprung up to develop it. At least five nuclear-capable missile types made their debut during the military parade – three can reportedly reach the continental United States; one is a submarine-launched ballistic missile; and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324640/how-chinas-military-surged-ahead-tech-firing-competition-among-suppliers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324640/how-chinas-military-surged-ahead-tech-firing-competition-among-suppliers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Sep 2025 14:00:11 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong The images leaked at the weekend from a rehearsal for Wednesday’s military parade showcased an impressive array of Chinese missile systems, including what could be the world’s first air-breathing hypersonic missile to make a formal appearance. The simultaneous appearance of the YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20 anti-ship missiles showed China’s growing capability in integrated systematic operations. But it was the YJ-19, with its visible air inlet, that represented the most cutting-edge aerospace... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3324050/breathtaking-science-behind-yj-19-chinas-first-hypersonic-cruise-missile?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3324050/breathtaking-science-behind-yj-19-chinas-first-hypersonic-cruise-missile?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Sep 2025 14:00:12 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen A new Chinese flying-wing aircraft – possibly the CH-7 stealth drone or another new model seen recently on satellite imagery – could be undergoing test flights, an image circulating on social media suggests. The photo, which could not be verified, shows the large aircraft in flight from the rear, its landing gear down and split rudders near the wing tips. Its low-observable, flying-wing design combines the wings and fuselage, giving the aircraft a wide, flat appearance. It is not known when or... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322777/china-appears-be-testing-new-stealth-flying-wing-drone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322777/china-appears-be-testing-new-stealth-flying-wing-drone?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 11:00:12 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is likely to showcase a new type of advanced stealth attack drone during September’s Victory Day parade in Beijing, rehearsal images circulating online suggest. The FH-97, a single-engine, ground-attack uncrewed aircraft, has been described as potentially China’s first combat-ready stealth drone, capable of coordinated aerial warfare alongside crewed jets. Photos leaked online over the weekend appeared to show an FH-97 takng part in the rehearsals for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322417/china-poised-lead-world-combat-ready-loyal-wingman-fh-97-stealth-drone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322417/china-poised-lead-world-combat-ready-loyal-wingman-fh-97-stealth-drone?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 01:00:19 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen New hypersonic anti-ship missiles and a road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile system were among a line-up of advanced Chinese weaponry seen on the streets of Beijing over the weekend. Photos and videos circulating online reveal some of the People’s Liberation Army’s latest hardware that was spotted by residents during a second rehearsal for next month’s military parade. The images and footage show unmanned underwater vehicles, a gigantic laser weapon, a fleet of drones and unmanned... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322176/new-missiles-drones-and-tanks-whats-been-rolling-through-beijings-streets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322176/new-missiles-drones-and-tanks-whats-been-rolling-through-beijings-streets?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 04:00:09 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin China has completed a critical landing and take-off test of its crewed lunar lander, moving a step closer to putting astronauts on the moon before 2030. A prototype of the four-legged Lanyue lander – designed to ferry two astronauts between lunar orbit and the surface – underwent a comprehensive trial on Wednesday in Huailai county, in northern China’s Hebei province, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Thursday. Using giant tether towers to mimic lunar gravity and a cratered field... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3321150/china-completes-key-lander-test-preparation-crewed-moon-mission-2030?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3321150/china-completes-key-lander-test-preparation-crewed-moon-mission-2030?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Aug 2025 21:58:10 +0000 Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage On the outskirts of the Namibian capital Windhoek, a Chinese-funded and built satellite data receiving ground station symbolises China’s growing cooperation in Africa’s nascent space industry. The station was described by the Chinese embassy as “a shining example of China-Namibia cooperation” as they celebrated the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations. In a social media post on July 18 announcing the completion of the satellite facility ahead of time earlier this year, the embassy said it... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3320537/china-built-satellite-station-shining-example-support-namibian-space-programme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3320537/china-built-satellite-station-shining-example-support-namibian-space-programme?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Aug 2025 12:00:08 +0000