Overview
- State media and AVIC said the Jiutian completed its first flight on December 11 in Shaanxi Province, confirming the debut of the large unmanned platform.
- Published specifications list a 16.35 m length, 25 m wingspan, ~16 t maximum takeoff weight, up to 6,000 kg payload, roughly 12 hours endurance, and about 7,000 km ferry range.
- CCTV described eight underwing hardpoints for 1,000 kg–class weapons and an internal ‘isomerism‑hive’ module designed to deploy hundreds of small drones or loitering munitions.
- AVIC and state outlets frame the aircraft for civilian missions such as remote cargo delivery, disaster relief, communications restoration, surveying, and law enforcement under a modular payload system.
- Reports say mission pods can be swapped in roughly two hours, and analysts note potential PLA swarm applications, though autonomy, weapons integration, and procurement remain unverified.