Article Summary: A mockup of China’s “White Emperor” hypersonic reconnaissance aircraft at the Zhuhai Airshow sparked online speculation, but the aircraft is not real. However, the idea of a hypersonic spy plane is feasible, as seen in the proposed SR-72 “Son of Blackbird” from Lockheed Martin.
Key Point #1 – The SR-72 could fly at Mach 6, overcoming satellite limitations with rapid-response intelligence gathering. However, extreme heat and engine challenges make such a project difficult. While China’s true hypersonic reconnaissance ambitions remain unclear, their surveillance efforts—including the infamous spy balloon—suggest growing interest.
Key Point # 2 – If realized, hypersonic ISR aircraft could redefine intelligence gathering in future conflicts.
That 1 Word: FAKE.
China’s Hypersonic Spy Plane? The Truth Behind the “White Emperor”
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s… not real. Despite the fanfare with which the so-called White Emperor ‘NGAD‘ 6th generation fighter was met when a mockup was revealed at the Zhuhai Airshow, the jet is not a flying prototype.
However, it did seem to get several online commentators going, who speculated wildly over its supposed characteristics.
Even though the mockup is not an actual aircraft, it is somewhat akin to actual aircraft, like the SR-71 — a real aircraft — or the conceptual SR-72 successor.
In reality, the “White Emperor” is perhaps most akin to the Darkstar concept that made a dramatic appearance as a part of the latest Top Gun movie: something that would be technologically challenging but potentially feasible, in essence, a long-range, hypersonic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance jet.
SR-72 Son of Blackbird and White Emperor
Of these aircraft, the one most grounded in reality, aside from the now-retired SR-71, is the successor aircraft, colloquially known as the SR-72 Son of Blackbird, after the SR-71’s nickname.
Proposed by Lockheed Martin and designed to fly at Mach 6-plus speeds, the aircraft would offer a quick-response capability to overhead spying.
While the United States and many other countries have hundreds if not thousands of spy satellites in orbit, those assets follow predictable orbit paths and require time to reposition to look at different places on Earth. The repositioning can also be observed by other satellites, hinting at what their intentions are. In contrast, a hypersonic spy plane like the SR-72 could rapidly be sent to virtually anywhere in the world to gather intelligence.
But flying at Mach 6 speeds or greater is no easy feat. Thermal management at those speeds is an enormous challenge. Friction caused by air moving over an aircraft’s surface generates intense heat that must be mitigated in order to protect the aircraft and prevent catastrophic events. One potential solution would be to circulate fuel or other coolants around the aircraft’s hotspots in order to absorb and dissipate heat.
Another challenge is the kind of engine or engines needed to achieve such blindingly fast speeds. A Mach 6-plus aircraft would need to fly between subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic speeds. One solution could be a turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine, which combines the qualities of a conventional engine for lower take-off and landing speeds with a scramjet engine for sustained hypersonic flight. Easier said than done.
Although Lockheed Martin has previously indicated that initial research into an SR-72-like aircraft has been started, a prototype has not broken cover to the general public. If the project becomes a reality, it will be a significant engineering achievement and will add an interesting arrow into the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance quiver for the United States.
Questions About the Future and Whit Emperor
One open question is if China is also developing something with capabilities similar to the SR-71 or the proposed SR-72. As evidenced by the 2023 Chinese balloon incident, in which a high-altitude spy balloon drove across the United States and Canada, Beijing clearly had an interest in quietly surveilling parts of the world, particularly the United States.
While the White Emperor did push a few folks into hurriedly penning pieces in praise, the project is, well, not at all flying a real plane for now — though the capabilities of similar aircraft could in theory become a reality in the future.
Until then, we’ll have to sit and wait.’
White Emperor: A Story in Photos
Chinese NGAD White Emperor Fighter Plane from China. Image Credit: X Screenshot.
China’s “White Emperor” (Baidi) is a 6th-generation stealth fighter mock-up designed to function as an integrated “space-air” platform. Presented by state-owned AVIC, the mock-up suggests capabilities for supersonic speeds near the atmosphere’s edge.
White Emperor 6th Generation Fighter. Image Credit: X screenshot.
About the Author: Caleb Larson
Caleb Larson is an American multiformat journalist based in Berlin, Germany. His work covers the intersection of conflict and society, focusing on American foreign policy and European security. He has reported from Germany, Russia, and the United States. Most recently, he covered the war in Ukraine, reporting extensively on the war’s shifting battle lines from Donbas and writing on the war’s civilian and humanitarian toll. Previously, he worked as a Defense Reporter for POLITICO Europe. You can follow his latest work on X.
