BEIJING: China’s massive aerial drone carrier, known as Jiu Tian, has successfully carried out its maiden test flight.
According to the state-run Xinhua News Agency, the large drone took to the skies for the first time in the northwestern province of Shaanxi, although the exact date of the flight was not disclosed.
The advanced drone carrier was developed by the First Aircraft Institute under AVIC, China’s state-owned aerospace corporation.
Reports indicate that Jiu Tian has been engineered with automated, integrated, and cutting-edge technologies, enabling it to carry heavy payloads, fly for extended periods, cover long distances, and take off and land within short runways.
First showcased at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2024, the drone is capable of carrying up to 100 small loitering munitions or “suicide drones” which can be launched from pods mounted on both sides of the aircraft.
In addition to this capability, the platform features eight hardpoints that can support a variety of weapons and equipment, allowing it to perform intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and electronic warfare missions.
Chinese military analyst Song Zhongping noted that the system is a true “drone carrier,” capable of executing large-scale swarm attacks that would be extremely challenging for enemy air-defense systems to counter.
Xinhua further reported that drone 16.35 meters in length, has a wingspan of 25 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 16 tons, and a payload capacity of 6,000 kilograms.
The drone can stay airborne for up to 12 hours nonstop and has a ferry range of 7,000 kilometers.
