Image Courtesy: Global Times

China is preparing to test a domestically developed supersonic aircraft demonstrator that could eventually pave the way for passenger flights between Beijing and Shanghai in roughly 30 minutes. The TMS-10, developed by Tianmushan Laboratory, is expected to attempt sustained supersonic flight by the end of 2026.

The aircraft is currently undergoing final assembly and integration after completing aerodynamic wind-tunnel testing, airframe manufacturing and flight-control system development. A successful test would mark an important step toward China’s efforts to develop a new generation of low-boom civilian supersonic aircraft.

Tianmushan Laboratory has completed the overall design of a 10- to 15-seat supersonic business aircraft intended for business travel and high-end tourism. The aircraft is designed to cruise at Mach 2 while maintaining a subsonic cruise capability of around Mach 0.95. Reducing aerodynamic drag and minimizing sonic-boom intensity are central to the design.

A 1:18-scale TMS-10 demonstrator completed its first low-speed flight in June 2025 at Dingzhou Airport in Hebei Province. That test reached less than Mach 0.2 and focused on takeoff, landing, stability and flight control.

The upcoming test will be substantially more ambitious. Researchers plan to break the sound barrier, conduct sustained supersonic flight and measure the resulting sonic boom. The flight will also evaluate transonic flight controls and the integration of the aircraft’s aerodynamic design with its propulsion system.

One of the TMS-10’s defining features is its three-surface configuration, which includes a forward canard and T-tail. Engineers say the arrangement helps prevent shock waves from the nose and wings from combining into a stronger wave, while the rear configuration disperses shock waves to reduce the intensity reaching the ground.

Developing a passenger-ready aircraft, however, will require considerably more testing. Engineers still need to address propulsion, high-temperature materials, structural durability, operating costs and passenger comfort. Tianmushan Laboratory also plans to develop a variable-cycle propulsion system and eventually test a roughly 10-ton large-scale demonstrator.

China is not alone in pursuing quieter supersonic aviation. NASA’s X-59, designed to reduce the noise produced by supersonic flight, reached supersonic speed during testing earlier this year.

If the TMS-10 program succeeds, it could provide China with valuable technology for larger supersonic passenger aircraft. The bigger challenge will be turning that technology into a commercially viable aircraft that can operate safely and economically.