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<p class=”text-body text-muted small”>China first unveiled the new ALBM in November 2022, during AirShow China 2022. At the time, the two missiles unveiled had a yellow stripe and a code signifying that they were training missiles (as shown in the image, in the top part of this graphic). Recent imagery shows the ALBM in a low-observable grey-blue colour scheme, indicating that the missile is progressing to production. (Janes/Gettyimages)</p>
<p>China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has released a video showing a Xi’an H-6K strategic bomber launching a new ballistic missile in flight.</p>
<p>Imagery of the air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) being dropped from the H-6K was included in an official PLA video released on 1 May. In the video, the new missile is dropped from the port side wing pylon of an H-6K. The missile, which has the tentative designation of KD-21, is not shown igniting its engine.</p>
<p>
The new ALBM is potentially a hypersonic missile, similar to the Russian Kh‐47M2 Kinzhal (AS-24 ‘Killjoy’).
<em>Janes</em>
has previously assessed that the KD-21 ALBM is likely powered by a solid-propellant rocket engine. However, it is unclear if the KD-21 in the recent video was equipped with an engine.
</p>
<p>
The ALBM was first unveiled to the public at AirShow China 2022 at Zhuhai. At the time, two missiles (carried in the wing pylons of an H-6K) were marked with the code 2PZD-21, which stands for
<em>Pèi zhòng dǎodàn</em>
(counterweight missile). This indicated that they were not live munitions.
</p>
<p>
In the 1 May video, however, the decorative stripe and code seen on the KD-21 at AirShow China 2022 appear to be absent. The ALBM in the recent video is painted in an operational grey-blue colour scheme, with the nose painted pale grey.
<em>Janes</em></p>
<p class=”text-body text-muted small”>China first unveiled the new ALBM in November 2022, during AirShow China 2022. At the time, the two missiles unveiled had a yellow stripe and a code signifying that they were training missiles (as shown in the image, in the top part of this graphic). Recent imagery shows the ALBM in a low-observable grey-blue colour scheme, indicating that the missile is progressing to production. (Janes/Gettyimages)</p>
<p>China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has released a video showing a Xi’an H-6K strategic bomber launching a new ballistic missile in flight.</p>
<p>Imagery of the air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) being dropped from the H-6K was included in an official PLA video released on 1 May. In the video, the new missile is dropped from the port side wing pylon of an H-6K. The missile, which has the tentative designation of KD-21, is not shown igniting its engine.</p>
<p>
The new ALBM is potentially a hypersonic missile, similar to the Russian Kh‐47M2 Kinzhal (AS-24 ‘Killjoy’).
<em>Janes</em>
has previously assessed that the KD-21 ALBM is likely powered by a solid-propellant rocket engine. However, it is unclear if the KD-21 in the recent video was equipped with an engine.
</p>
<p>
The ALBM was first unveiled to the public at AirShow China 2022 at Zhuhai. At the time, two missiles (carried in the wing pylons of an H-6K) were marked with the code 2PZD-21, which stands for
<em>Pèi zhòng dǎodàn</em>
(counterweight missile). This indicated that they were not live munitions.
</p>
<p>
In the 1 May video, however, the decorative stripe and code seen on the KD-21 at AirShow China 2022 appear to be absent. The ALBM in the recent video is painted in an operational grey-blue colour scheme, with the nose painted pale grey.
<em>Janes</em></p>