As China’s military power continues to grow, a mysterious construction project in the Xinjiang region has drawn significant international attention. According to recent reports from Chinese media citing U.S. military outlet *The War Zone*, satellite images reveal that China has constructed an ultra-large hangar in Xinjiang, large enough to accommodate the U.S. Navy’s largest “Nimitz-class” aircraft carrier.
The report states that the hangar began construction in 2013 and was completed in 2015, with a length of 1,150 feet (approximately 350.52 meters) and a width of 450 feet (approximately 137.16 meters). Recently, this hangar has undergone expansion, adding nearly 300 feet (approximately 91.44 meters) of additional space, indicating that China may be preparing for a larger-scale military project.
The report suggests that this massive hangar could have been built to house a yet-to-be-revealed “super-large airship.” This airship is speculated to have long-endurance high-altitude flight capabilities and may be used for strategic reconnaissance, missile defense, and anti-satellite operations, among other advanced functions. Chinese military commentator “Space and Air Power” believes that this airship, with its long flight duration, high altitude, and low operating costs, could play a significant role in military transport, high-altitude reconnaissance, and strategic early warning.
“Space and Air Power” notes that although airships were largely abandoned after the development of mature aircraft technology, China’s project might bring airship technology back to the military forefront. The latest super-large airship could serve as a launch platform for drone swarms or even as an ammunition transport tool in the future. With endurance capabilities far surpassing other aircraft, these airships could provide the People’s Liberation Army with lasting aerial superiority.
The U.S. military media analysis points out that China’s super-large airship project, in terms of both size and payload capacity, may surpass similar U.S. equipment, especially in terms of aerial surveillance and endurance. This could place China in a favorable position in future military technology competitions. Although there is no conclusive evidence yet that China is developing airships to match the Xinjiang hangar, “Space and Air Power” highlights that once technical challenges are overcome, these airships could play a crucial role in aerial refueling, launching, and recovering drones.
Additionally, “Space and Air Power” mentions the “Xiangyun” AS700 manned airship, manufactured by China Aviation Industry Corporation, which has already made progress in the civilian fields of low-altitude tourism and emergency rescue. This also demonstrates China’s significant capabilities in airship technology. With breakthroughs in civilian technology, the potential for military airship development is even more intriguing. These new airships could revolutionize future aerial combat models, becoming a new trump card for China in the high-tech military arena.