China’s ‘Jiu Tian’ Drone Carrier Ready for First Mission, Can Deploy 100 Suicide Drones

Beijing – China is preparing to launch its advanced unmanned aerial vehicle ‘Jiu Tian’ on its maiden mission by the end of June, according to Chinese media reports.

First unveiled at the Zhuhai Air Show in November 2024, the ‘Jiu Tian’ is a jet-powered, long-range drone designed for high-altitude operations. It is capable of flying at altitudes of up to 15,000 meters (about 50,000 feet) and can cover distances of nearly 7,000 kilometers.

The drone has a maximum takeoff weight of 16 tons and can carry up to 6 tons of payload, including weapons, loitering munitions, or compact kamikaze drones.

One of its most notable features is its ability to launch around 100 small drones or munitions mid-flight. These drones operate in a coordinated "swarming" pattern, overwhelming enemy defenses by launching simultaneous attacks from multiple directions.

Experts suggest that such a system could pose a significant challenge to traditional air defense setups, as intercepting a large number of drones at once is extremely difficult.