Leading Chinese Hypersonic Weapons Scientist Fang Daining Dies at 68
BEIJING – Fang Daining, a prominent figure in China’s hypersonic weapons development program, has died at the age of 68, according to an obituary notice circulating on Chinese social media last week. The notice indicated Fang died of illness on February 27th.
Fang was a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the nation’s highest academic title in science and technology, and a researcher at the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), a key university for defense research. His work focused on super-strong materials for spacecraft and advanced engines.
News of Fang’s passing has prompted an outpouring of grief within China’s scientific community. The obituary described his death as a “major loss” for the fields of mechanics, advanced materials, and higher education.
Initial online speculation, which the South China Morning Post could not independently confirm, suggested Fang may have experienced a medical emergency during a work trip to South Africa. Some social media users also reported being asked not to photograph the obituary notice, a claim also unverified by the Post.
Fang’s contributions were instrumental in China’s advancements in hypersonic technology, a field of increasing strategic importance globally. His death comes as nations worldwide invest heavily in developing these advanced weapons systems. He was also a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and a Foreign Academician of the US National Academy of Engineering, according to his profile on the Beijing Institute of Technology website.