Overview
- AVIC and state outlets said the large unmanned aircraft, also known as Jiu Tian, made its maiden flight in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province.
- Published specifications list a 16.35 m length, 25 m wingspan, 16‑ton maximum takeoff weight, 6,000 kg payload capacity, 12‑hour endurance and about 7,000 km ferry range.
- The aircraft features an internal “isomerism-hive” module that state media claims can house hundreds of small drones or loitering munitions for in‑flight swarm deployment.
- CCTV reports eight underwing hardpoints for 1,000‑kg‑class weapons and an open architecture that enables mission module swaps in roughly two hours.
- AVIC presents the platform as dual‑use for logistics, disaster relief, communications restoration and law enforcement, while analysts see PLA swarm potential and no service entry date has been announced.