China’s Jiu Tian, the Mother Ship That Can Launch 100 Drones. All You Need to Know

Jiu Tian – or “high sky” – is a super-high altitude, long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

China is all set to test its latest weapon in aerial warfare, the Jiu Tian SS-UAV. Dubbed the world’s first “drone mothership”, the Jiu Tian has the capacity to launch or carry up to 100 drones, including kamikaze UAVs, and a mix of air-to-air, air-to-ground, and anti-ship missiles.

According to a report in the South China Morning Post that quoted China’s state broadcaster CCTV, China is planning to test Jiu Tian by the end of June before it is put into use by the People’s Liberation Army of China.

What is Jiu Tian? What Are Its Specifications?

Jiu Tian – or “high sky” – is a super-high altitude, long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It was first seen at China’s Zhuhai Air Show in November last year.

With a maximum range of 7,000km (4,350 miles) and an altitude of 15,000 metres (50,000 feet), the jet-powered drone can carry up to 6 tonnes of ammunition and small drones.
It has a maximum take-off weight of 16 tonnes, a wingspan of 25 metres and an ability to fly above many of the medium-range defence systems that are deployed worldwide.
Up to 100 units of loitering ammunition or small drones, including kamikaze UAVs, can be released from both sides of the belly of the aircraft – extending their reach, the South China Morning Post report said.

The Jiu Tian UAV carrier will add to China’s stock of advanced drone technology, such as the stealth combat CH-7 and the medium-altitude, anti-submarine Wing Loong-X.
Some see it as a potential rival to the two dominant American drone models – the RQ-4 Global Hawk and the MQ-9 Reaper.

Designed by state-owned aerospace giant Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the Jiu Tian was built by Xian Chida Aircraft Parts Manufacturing, a subsidiary of state-owned defence enterprise Guangzhou Haige Communications.

The news about Jiu Tian comes in the backdrop of Chinese defence stocks taking a huge beating, some stocks tanking by as much as 9% after India successfully defended its civilians and air and military bases from Pakistani drones and missile systems, many of which were made in China and Pakistan urging India for a ceasefire.

Most of the military equipment that Pakistan bought from China and used against India earlier this month to counter India’s missiles and drones, either missed their targets or malfunctioned leaving both China and Pakistan red-faced.

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