Hi.
If we look back at issued patents with very little homework, i.e. at the most elementary level, only 2 patents show up, though a bit unrelated.
One such AVIC patent filed in 2014 might unveil an experimental test article whose utility now appears very obvious given the recent information we have. Quite useful to connect the dots.
Patent No: CN203921184
Title: Nose cone of hypersonic flight vehicle
Inventor(s): WANG CHUN; OU ZHENGLIANG; WANG YAO; ZHAO TONGGANG; KUANG JIANMIN; YE BIN +
Applicant(s): AVIC CHENGDU AIRCRAFT DESIGN & RES INST +
Application number: CN20142213550U 20140429
Priority number(s): CN20142213550U 20140429
Abstract :The utility model provides a nose cone of a hypersonic flight vehicle. The nose cone of the hypersonic flight vehicle is characterized in that the nose cone (1) of the hypersonic flight vehicle comprises a nose cone structure (2) and an embedded type air data sensing device (6), wherein the nose cone structure (2) comprises a front nose part (3), a conical barrel (4) and a rear end frame (5), the front nose part (3) is arranged at the front end of the conical barrel (4), the rear end frame (5) is arranged at the rear end of the conical barrel (4), the front nose part (3), the conical barrel (4) and the rear end frame (5) are connected to form a hollow nose cone structure after the relative positions of the front nose part (3), the conical barrel (4) and the rear end frame (5) are determined, and a run-through pressure tap is formed in the front nose part (3).
The other AVIC patent is entitled "Two-section type pre-compression central arced curve blade profile structure"(patent No.CN105465040). It was also filed in 2014 but issued in April 2016; it is related to airbreathing engine technology, with the AVIC Shenyang design & Research institute as applicant…
So yes, AVIC investigates hypersonics for those still doubting it.
A.
PS) The attached patent image is very different from the claimed but unlikely hypersonic unmanned hypersonic aircraft on the AVIC brochure.