China media says 120,000 tonne space-based aircraft carrier 'becoming a reality'

China has long been hyping up their "Nantianmen", literally translated to the "South Heavenly Gate", programme.

Over the years, China has released a concept video and even featured a life-sized mock-up of its flagship concept.

Now, Chinese media have recently resurfaced this futuristic concept, while grounding it to a near-future rollout.

According to Liane Zaobao, Chinese state media recently reported on the project.

The headline read: "You Heard It Right! The 'South Heavenly Gate Plan' is Becoming a Reality."

According to the article, China will build a 100,000-tonne-class aerospace carrier.

The carrier will be 242m in length and have a wingspan of 64m.

This carrier will hold 88 "Xuan Nu" unmanned aerospace combat aircraft.

A Chinese military expert quoted by the Chinese media said the project is a forward-thinking and innovative concept.

He further said the project will integrate cutting-edge technologies like hypersonic flight, directed energy weapons, air-space round-trip flights, among other high-tech inventions.

He further said the question is not whether these "cutting-edge technologies can be realised, but which ones should be realised first and when they should all be realised”.

Image from Sohu