A military test that China conducted at the end of 2024 probably created considerable consternation among Pentagon planners, EIR now learns. It was a test-run of China’s MD-19 hypersonic drone. About 8 to 11 feet in length, the drone can reach a speed of Mach-5, then decelerate, making the transition to subsonic speeds and land. This capability sets it apart from other hypersonic vehicles, which are often single-use, or require specialized recovery systems. Notably, it was a project developed by the Qian Xuesen Science and Technology Youth Task Force. While many of the specifications of the drone are classified, the Chinese Academy of Sciences decided to release the information concerning its capabilities.
Gao Fei, a researcher involved in the project, described the drone’s control systems as incorporating “biological intelligence,” a term suggesting advanced artificial intelligence that mimics natural decision-making processes. This integration of AI enables the MD-19 to navigate complex flight paths autonomously, a capability that could redefine unmanned systems.
