The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) launched a research program on June 15 to study technology for low-altitude hypersonic flight, potentially supporting development of sea-skimming hypersonic missiles faster than Mach 5 that could evade radar, according to the Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences. The initiative targets sustained flight at altitudes low enough to exploit radar horizon limitations while maintaining speeds above Mach 5, a combination that would dramatically reduce warning time for naval forces.
The program follows years of Chinese military research into hypersonic delivery systems. Chinese researchers published a study in Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica in May 2025 claiming space-launched re-entry glide vehicles could reach Mach 20 and hit global targets within 30 minutes, as reported by Fossbytes. The new CAS program focuses specifically on the sea-skimming profile, which requires solving extreme thermal and aerodynamic challenges at low altitude where air density is highest.
The CAS program will investigate thermal protection materials, guidance algorithms, and propulsion systems capable of sustaining Mach 5+ flight at altitudes below 100 meters. The South China Morning Post reported that the research could underpin a weapon that combines hypersonic speed with sea-skimming stealth, making it difficult for current ship-based radar systems to detect until seconds before impact.
The program's first phase runs through December 2027, with initial wind tunnel tests scheduled for early 2027 at CAS's Institute of Mechanics.
