Particle.news
Download on the App Store
14 ARTICLES
·
4h ago

China's Jiu Tian Drone Carrier Set for June Maiden Flight

State media confirms the high-altitude UAV will undergo its first test flight next month, marking a major step in Beijing's unmanned aerial combat strategy.

Image
Image
China is set to unveil the world’s first drone ‘mothership’—the Jiu Tian carrier—designed to launch up to 100 AI-guided kamikaze drones.
The Jiu Tian is a high-altitude, long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed as a force multiplier

Overview

  • The Jiu Tian UAV, capable of deploying up to 100 loitering munitions or drones, is designed to enhance China's drone swarm warfare capabilities.
  • With a range of 7,000 kilometers and a service ceiling of 15,000 meters, the aircraft can operate beyond the reach of many medium-range air defense systems.
  • The platform boasts a 16-tonne maximum take-off weight and a modular payload system, supporting missions ranging from combat to disaster relief.
  • Developed domestically by AVIC and Shaanxi Unmanned Equipment Technology, the drone carrier reflects China's rapid advancements in military UAV technology.
  • Its deployment is seen as a challenge to U.S. systems like the MQ-9 Reaper, emphasizing China's focus on anti-access/area-denial strategies in contested regions such as the Taiwan Strait.