SINGAPORE—An allegedly leaked U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGIA) report suggests China has almost or already established its first supersonic UAS unit, centered around the WZ-8 supersonic drone.
A diagram classified as “secret” shows satellite photos of the Liuan Airfield with the WZ-8 under shelter and being towed and suggests a Xian H-6 bomber carrying the WZ-8 will deploy the drone over the Taiwan Strait, before returning to the Zhangzhou Airfield while the WZ-8 conducts reconnaissance missions over Taiwan and reconnects with the H-6 at Zhangzhou.
An alternate area of operation will see the pair detaching over the Yellow Sea for missions over the west coast of South Korea, and meeting at the Dashuino Airfield in Shandong Province.
The NGIA assessment shows the WZ-8 has an operating altitude of 100,000 ft. and flying at Mach 3, making it among the highest-flying UAS in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
The document dated in August 2022 was posted on the Discord forum, allegedly by Airman Jack Teixeira of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. He was arrested last week and charged on two counts related to the unauthorized handling and publication of classified materials.
The WZ-8 was unveiled at the 2019 National Day Parade in Beijing with pylon attachments and rocket nozzles, suggesting the WZ-8 is designed to be carried by a larger mothership.
The recent classified document leak also indicates the PLA has tested the DF-27 hypersonic missile successfully and possesses a high probability of penetrating U.S. ballistic missile defenses. The said missile flew 2,100 km (1,300 mi.) 12 min.
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