AVIC WZ-8

WZ-8 was observed in Chinese Airforce experimental test bases by military analysts on satellite images.[3] The vehicle was revealed to the public on 1 October 2019 and was subsequently displayed at Zhuhai Airshow in 2021.[4]

WZ-8 is a supersonic-hypersonic, remotely operated, high-altitude reconnaissance vehicle. The aircraft bears some superficial resemblance to the DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle mounted onboard DF-17 medium-range ballistic missile and the American Lockheed D-21 reconnaissance drone,[5] albeit different in overall dimensions, propulsions, and speed. The drone is launched by a Xi'an H-6M bomber 'mothership', at its appropriate launch attitude. The WZ-8 then ignites its rocket motors, pushing the drone to its operating speed and altitude.[6] The intended roles for the drone include general reconnaissance, pre-attack target assessment, and intelligence gathering. According to the manufacturer claims, the drone can reach hypersonic speed at the cruise altitude of 50,000 metres (160,000 ft),[7] at near-space level.[8] US intelligence reports displayed it in hypothetical operation in a diagram,[1] with the drone flying over Taiwan or Yellow Sea at a speed of Mach 3 and altitude of 100,000 feet (30,000 m).[9] A drone able to sustain flight at a high altitude and speed would allow it to fill up intelligence needs in a combat environment where satellite support is unsustainable,[10] such as repeated fly-over above specific areas of interest.[5]

According to Chi Li-pin, director of the aeronautical systems research division of National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, Taiwan’s military-run weapons developer, the drone’s primary use won’t be against Taiwan but instead US military bases in the Pacific, saying "It's a weapon for anti-access/area denial."[1] Dean Cheng of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies said the aircraft is intended for surveillance "not just aimed at the United States or South Korea, Japan has to worry about it. India has to worry about it. All Southeast Asia has to worry about it."[1]

A 2023 leak of classified U.S. government documents made public a January 2023 report by the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) which stated that China has "almost certainly” established its first supersonic UAV unit operating the WZ-8 at Liu'an Airbase, in Dushan County, outside Lu'an. The base falls under Eastern Theater Command, the unit charged with conducting operations against Taiwan and in the South China Sea. The document stated that the drone's sensors, including electro-optical imaging and synthetic-aperture radar (SAR), could gather intelligence on Taiwan and the western side of South Korea.[1]

The drone was reportedly deployed at Anqing Airbase in 2021.[8] In 2023, US intelligence reported the drone and its H-6 mothership are currently operated by the Eastern Theater Command Air Force out of Liu'an Airbase in Anhui province.[1] The H-6M bombers are reported to belong to the 10th Bomber Division.[1]

 China

• People's Liberation Army Air Force
  • Eastern Theater Command Air Force
    • 10th Bomber Division, Liu'an Airbase
    • 10th Bomber Division, Anqing Airbase[8]

Data from Xinhua News[11]

General characteristics

• Crew: None
• Length: 11.5 m (37 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 6.7 m (22 ft 0 in)
• Height: 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
• Powerplant: 2 × YF50 rocket motor

Performance

• Cruise speed: 7,408–8,643 km/h (4,603–5,371 mph, 4,000–4,667 kn) Mach 6 to Mach 7
• Service ceiling: 50,000 m (160,000 ft)

• North American X-15
• Lockheed D-21
• Ryan Model 147