Could a missile really change its shape while flying faster than Mach 5? China’s latest experiment suggests it might.
According to researchers at the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT), its experimental missile can “morph” midflight to ensure maximum stability and control.
When its wings fold, the body becomes sleek and fast, slicing through air with minimal drag. When extended, the wings provide lift and maneuverability.
This approach reportedly addresses a core problem in hypersonic design, where speed often comes at the cost of control.
The project is being led by NUDT Professor Wang Peng and was recently published in Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica journal.
Engineering the Impossible
Maintaining stability at hypersonic speeds means contending with temperatures above 2,000 degrees Celsius (3,632 degrees Fahrenheit) and crushing aerodynamic forces.
Under those conditions, air ionizes, metal softens, and every moving surface risks failure — challenges made even tougher by a shape-shifting airframe.
To address these problems, Wang’s team developed a real-time adaptive control system that constantly recalculates lift, drag, and stability as the wings move.
The design relies on high-order system modeling to predict behavior, paired with a “prescribed performance” framework that keeps flight responses within safe limits.
An advanced “super-twisting” sliding-mode control algorithm smooths out noise and vibration, preventing actuator damage during high-speed morphing.
The result is a system light enough to run on the compact, rugged processors typically found in missiles, bringing adaptive control closer to real-world use.
