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China’s new hypersonic drone beats F-22 in aerodynamic efficiency: study

  • During testing, a new Chinese hypersonic drone has shown superior aerodynamic efficiency compared to the American F-22
  • The unmanned aircraft can manoeuvre flexibly even at high altitudes, posing a challenge to missile defence systems

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The Chinese hypersonic drones have been shown to be superior to American F-22 Raptors during wind tunnel testing. Photo: EPA-EFE/US Air Force
Stephen Chenin Beijing
A new breed of China’s unmanned hypersonic aircraft can now challenge the aerodynamic performance of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the US military, according to a group of scientists from Beijing.
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The new hypersonic drone boasts a lift-to-drag ratio of 8.4 in subsonic flight. While it is not exceptionally high, it is already on a par to that of the F-22 Raptor.

The lift-to-drag ratio is a crucial parameter for measuring aerodynamic efficiency. A higher value indicates greater resistance of the aircraft to the pull of gravity and enables it to fly a greater distance.

The F-22 is the only stealth fighter in the US military capable of supercruise, or sustained flight at supersonic speeds.

An artist’s impression of China’s MD-22 hypersonic drone, which is believed to be similar to – though smaller than – the one tested against the F-22. Photo: Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
An artist’s impression of China’s MD-22 hypersonic drone, which is believed to be similar to – though smaller than – the one tested against the F-22. Photo: Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nearly 20 years after introduction, the fighter remains shrouded in secrecy.

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