Chinese unmanned “flying aircraft carrier for drones” Jiutian undergoes trials

Unmanned technology breakthrough

December 11, 2025, Chinese military Unmanned Jiutian He's done his job. first flightconfirmed by the Chinese agency Xinhua. device developed by a company owned by Aviation manufacture corp of China (AVIC)is capable of handling and firing up to 100 drones in flightwhich makes it 1 of the most advanced combat systems of this kind in the world.

Technical parameters and operational capabilities

Jiutian is characterized by awesome tactical and method data:

• Longitude: 16 m
• Wing span: 25 m
• Load capacity: to 6 tonnes
• Scope: 7,000 km
• Flight time: to 12 hours

According to Xinhua, parameters Jiutiana is simply a highly technologically advanced solution compared to another planet class unmanned workers.

Flexible applications

An unmanned individual may carry a variety of cargo, including:

• suicide drones,
• guided bombs,
• air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.

Its main functions include:

• precision attack,
• tactical diagnosis,
• provision of supplies to distant islands,
• geological exploration for natural materials,
• environmental monitoring and cartography.

System equipped with target detection radarwhich allows independent indication and demolition of objects – both ground and air.

Strategic context

Jiutian's improvement is straight related to Chinese Army Priorities to possible conflicts:

• in the Taiwan Strait,
• in the South China Sea.

War Experience Russian-Ukrainian and conflicts in the mediate East have shown that mass usage of drones and unmanned systems may decide on the result of modern military operations. The Chinese army, as part of its strategy for an intelligent war, systematically invests in autonomous multi-purpose platformswhich may act in swarms or as parent units for smaller UAVs.

Development prospects

Jiutian represents a fresh class direct impact platformsthat combine long range, high burden capacity and Missionary flexibility. It can become a key component in the future Chinese Unmanned air force, both in regional conflicts and in long-range operations, e.g. in the protection of China's interests in Asia, Africa and Oceania.

Source:

1. Nikkei Asia – Chinese unscreened aircraft that can launch 100 drones makes first flight, https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/defence/chinese-uncrewed-aircraft-that-can-launch-100-drones-makes-first-flight
2. Xinhua News Agency – Jiutian UAV Completes Maiden Flight, December 11, 2025
3. Aviation manufacture corp of China (AVIC) — Unmanned Systems Portfolio, https://www.avic.com
4. International Institute for strategical Studies (IISS) – The Drone Revolution in Modern Warfare, November 2025, https://www.iiss.org

Leszek B. Glass

Email: [email protected]

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