Chinese Luanniao Project: The latest military display from China is the stuff of science fiction, but the implications are very much in the here and now. A concept video released by the Chinese state media shows an enormous space-capable aircraft carrier designed to launch unmanned fighter drones and attack targets well beyond the Earth’s atmosphere whether this is a prototype or a propaganda tool, the message is clear.
What is the Luanniao Space Carrier?
Space Carrier known as “Luanniao,” the proposed vessel has a triangular flying carrier design, measuring 800 feet long with a wingspan that allegedly exceeds 2,000 feet. According to Chinese reports, the proposed aircraft carrier is expected to have a takeoff weight of 120,000 tons, which is 20% heavier than the USS Gerald R. Ford, currently the world’s largest operational aircraft carrier.
Capabilities Claimed by Chinese State Media
According to official reports, Luanniao had the capability to deploy up to 88 unmanned Xuan Nu stealth fighters, which had the ability to carry hypersonic missiles. These stealth fighters are claimed to have the ability to operate beyond the range of conventional air defense zones, thus bypassing surface to air missiles and enemy aircraft.
China unveils flying aircraft carrier
Beijing claims ‘Star Wars’ space warship could deploy unmanned fighter jets but experts are sceptical of ‘stunt’… pic.twitter.com/Rd1TKRY3F3— Brian Roemmele (@BrianRoemmele) February 3, 2026
Strategic Intent Behind the Announcement
This is seen as deliberate by analysts where china’s defense budget in 2025 was over $230 billion, rising by nearly 7% annually for the past ten years. The Luanniao is a part of a larger messaging campaign aimed at regional rivals, including Taiwan, as well as a warning to Washington that China intends to compete in more than just land and sea engagements.
Part of China’s Expanding Space Ambitions
The mission is reportedly a part of the Nantianmen (Heavenly Gate) project, which is an overall strategy for defending air space. It comes after recent achievements such as Chang’e-6, which returned lunar samples in 2024 and the upcoming Chang’e-7 mission and scheduled to search for water ice on the Moon later this year.
Technical Barriers & Expert Skepticism
Despite the impressive visuals, many aerospace experts are not convinced and the current state of propulsion technology is not capable of lifting and maintaining a vehicle of this size in the near-space environment and estimates put China 10 to 15 years behind the leaders in reusable rockets, such as SpaceX.
Psychological Warfare or Long-Term Vision?
Western defense watchers perceive a pattern where Beijing has, in the past, promoted concepts for submarine-hunting super-weapons and orbital strike weapons that never materialized. The history cautions us against underestimating what may appear and technologies that were once dismissed as fantasies are now a reality. It may be a mistake to dismiss Luanniao too readily.
What This Means for Global Security
Even as an idea, the Luanniao is a game-changer in strategic thinking and the US has 800 foreign military bases, but China is quickly bridging the gap with space-based weapons. The competition for dominance in orbit is no longer a hypothetical scenario and such announcements only hasten mistrust, militarization and escalation.
