Xingkong‑2 Hypersonic Glide Vehicle

Manufacturer: China Aerospace Science & Technology Corp. (CASC)
Category: Glide Vehicle
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Hypersonic Speed Mach 5.5–6 (reported)
Maneuverable Glide Path Yes
Boost-Glide Launch Yes (rocket‑assisted launch)
Extreme Thermal Protection Presumably advanced composite and heat‑resistant materials (necessary for hypersonic flight)

Full Specifications

1. General Information

Name / Designation	Xingkong‑2 (Starry Sky‑2)
Type	Hypersonic waverider / glide vehicle
Manufacturer	China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA) / CASC
Country of Origin	China
Role / Purpose	Hypersonic strike vehicle — regional strike / anti‑ship / potential nuclear strike / kinetic kill
Operational Status	Experimental / prototype / test phase

2. Physical Characteristics

Length	Not publicly disclosed
Body Design	Wedge-shaped “waverider” airframe for shockwave lift
Material	Presumed high-temperature composites and heat-resistant alloys
Launch Platform	Rocket booster / multistage solid-fuel rocket
Payload Capacity	Not publicly disclosed — conventional or nuclear potential

3. Propulsion & Performance

Propulsion Type	Rocket booster for launch; aerodynamic gliding during flight
Speed	Mach 5.5–6 (test‑verified)
Range	Estimated 660–720 km glide range
Maneuverability	High — capable of large-angle turns and trajectory adjustments
Flight Profile	Boost phase via rocket, separation, then hypersonic atmospheric glide

4. Navigation & Guidance

Guidance System	Not publicly disclosed; likely inertial navigation system
Terminal Guidance	Unknown / unverified
Accuracy (CEP)	Not publicly disclosed
Counter-Jamming	Unknown — no verified data on electronic protection

5. Warhead & Payload

Warhead Type	Potential conventional or nuclear payload; kinetic kill capability possible
Explosive Yield	Not publicly disclosed
Penetration Ability	High-speed kinetic impact may penetrate defenses, unverified

6. Survivability & Defensive Features

Thermal Protection	Advanced heat-resistant composites for hypersonic flight
Stealth Features	Not publicly disclosed
Anti-Interception Ability	High: unpredictable glide path, extreme speed, altitude maneuvers complicate missile defense

Our Rating

The overall rating is based on review by our experts

Maintenance Efficiency 8 / 10
Performance 8 / 10
Technology 8 / 10
Reliability & Maintenance 8 / 10

PROS

Sustained hypersonic speed (Mach 5.5–6) for extended glide — greatly reduces reaction time for adversaries.
Highly maneuverable glide trajectory, complicating interception by existing missile‑defense systems.
Waverider design uses shockwaves for lift, improving aerodynamic efficiency at hypersonic speeds.
Potential to carry conventional or nuclear payload — versatile deployment options.
Compact glide‑vehicle form factor allows flexible integration with various rocket boosters or missile systems.

CONS

Publicly available data on payload capacity, warhead specifics, and guidance accuracy remain limited or unverified.
Hypersonic flight generates extreme thermal stress — challenging materials and thermal-protection systems.
Range (estimated 660–720 km) remains limited compared with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
Deployment and operational status remain uncertain — likely still in experimental/test phase.
Integration risk: real-world performance (reliability, accuracy, survivability) under combat conditions remains unproven.

The Xingkong-2 — known in English as “Starry Sky‑2” — represents a leap in hypersonic glide‑vehicle (HGV) technology, combining shock‑wave generated lift with extreme speed and maneuverability to challenge current missile defenses. Designed by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA) under the auspices of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), this experimental waverider showcases China’s ambition to field a next‑generation strike vehicle.

Launched via a rocket booster, Xingkong‑2 separates at high altitude, then transitions to a hypersonic glide profile — using its wedge-shaped “waverider” design to ride shockwaves and sustain lift at extreme speeds. During its first publicly acknowledged test in August 2018, the vehicle ascended to approximately 30 km altitude and sustained Mach 5.5 to Mach 6 for several minutes, reaching speeds of roughly 7,344 km/h.

Although official details remain limited, analysts project a glide range of roughly 660–720 km for Xingkong‑2 under certain conditions — enough for regional strike or anti-ship missions. Its maneuverable flight path, high speed, and atmospheric glide profile make interception by traditional missile‑defense systems extremely challenging.

In future operational use, Xingkong‑2 could carry either conventional or nuclear payloads, or serve as a kinetic‑kill vehicle — enhancing its versatility in a variety of strike scenarios.

Xingkong‑2 Glide Vehicle Price

Because Xingkong-2 is a military weapon system developed and maintained by the Chinese state, it is not available commercially for sale — hence there is no public “price” in the United States or global defense market.

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