Following Chinese Reconnaissance Balloon, 'Submarine of the Sky'?..."Large Airship Spotted at Military Base"

The United States has detected a large military airship in a desert in China. This has drawn attention in connection with the 'Chinese reconnaissance balloon scandal' from last February.

On the 1st (local time), the US CNN network reported this based on an analysis of satellite images taken by BlackSky, a satellite image provider and analysis company, in November of last year.

According to images taken by BlackSky on November 3-4 last year, a Chinese military airship approximately 31 meters long was located on a runway about 1 km long at a military base on the outskirts of Kuerle City in the Xinjiang region of China.

On both sides of the runway, there were devices used for the airship's takeoff and a hangar approximately 275 meters long.

Satellite image of an airship captured at a Chinese military base.
[Photo by CNN·Yonhap News]

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CNN interpreted this airship as a possible sign that China's related program has significantly advanced.

Since the 275-meter-long hangar was first observed via satellite in 2013, there was no activity for several years, but in 2020, large equipment believed to be for airship takeoff and landing was spotted. Additionally, construction at this base resumed in 2022, and underground excavation and concreting work are reportedly ongoing.

However, the exact utilization method of China's large airships has not been clearly known until now.

Jamie Jacobs, director of the Oklahoma Aerospace Research Institute, told the media in an interview, "This type of airship can be used like a submarine in the sky," adding, "This airship is presumed to have dedicated propulsion and navigation capabilities, allowing it to loiter in one place for extended periods."

Chinese airship program researcher Eli Hayes also analyzed that this airship was likely produced for reconnaissance and other security purposes.

He said, "The sighting of an airship at a Chinese military facility shows that China's airship technology and research are no longer for civilian use," and pointed out, "It is important to note that many Chinese patents related to airship technology have recently been transferred to the newly established People's Liberation Army Unit 63660."

A senior official from the US Department of Defense avoided direct mention of the Chinese large airship but stated, "The Department of Defense is also aware of this."

Meanwhile, China, which entered the Labor Day holiday period, reportedly did not respond to CNN's interview requests.

Meanwhile, earlier in February, the US military shot down a Chinese reconnaissance balloon that had entered US airspace. This reconnaissance balloon was shaped like a hot air balloon, approximately 60 meters tall and 36 meters wide.

The US stated at the time that China had conducted reconnaissance balloon programs in more than 40 countries across five continents.

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