Beijing claims ‘Star Wars’ space warship could deploy unmanned fighter jets
The core equipment of the Nantianmen plan is the “Luanniao,” a Helicarrier (flying aircraft carrier) named after a mythical bird. According to Lijian, the Luanniao is designed to be 242 meters long, 684 meters wide, and have a maximum takeoff weight of 120,000 tons. It is essentially a real-world version of the Helicarrier, the airborne aircraft carrier that serves as a base in the Hollywood film “The Avengers.”
Luanniao, a flying aircraft carrier, central to China’s next-generation aerospace weapons system.
The Luanniao is planned to carry up to 88 unmanned space fighters called “Xuannü,” named after a goddess of war from Chinese legend known for her military strategy. The Xuannü is described as a highly maneuverable unmanned fighter capable of carrying hypersonic missiles and conducting combat even outside the atmosphere.
If completed, the new spaceship would “outclass pretty much everyone”, according to Peter Layton, a defence expert and a visiting fellow at Australia’s Griffith Asia Institute.
It would be capable of flying over surface-to-air missiles and other fighter aircraft, he said, adding: “You’re also out of range of the weather, generally speaking – and you’re out of range of most defensive systems.”
https://www.chosun.com/english/world-en/2026/01/13/LHM6EZ7FVJGPPCC6IO6ZAAFKB4/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/03/china-unveils-star-wars-space-carrier-luanniao/
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