China has revealed a powerful new weapon in its growing drone arsenal, a massive unmanned “mothership” aircraft called Jiu Tian, meaning “High Sky.” This new drone carrier can release up to 100 smaller kamikaze or reconnaissance drones during a single mission, opening the door to large-scale swarm tactics that could transform battlefields.
The Jiu Tian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was set to fly its first official mission by the end of June, according to China Central Television (CCTV). Built by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the drone was first shown at the Zhuhai Air Show in November 2024.
The platform is designed to extend China’s unmanned combat range, especially in contested areas of the Asia-Pacific. With a maximum range of 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles) and the ability to fly at altitudes of 15,000 meters (50,000 feet), Jiu Tian is positioned as a high-altitude, long-endurance UAV capable of both surveillance and offensive missions.
Its wingspan stretches 25 meters (82 feet), and the drone can take off at a weight of 16 tonnes, carrying payloads of up to 6 tonnes.
The Jiu Tian’s uniqueness is its role as a “drone carrier.” From compartments under its fuselage, it can release as many as 100 smaller drones mid-flight. These include loitering munitions, kamikaze drones, and reconnaissance UAVs, all designed to overwhelm enemy defenses through swarm tactics.
Chinese state media compared the release to “bees leaving a hive,” showing promotional videos of dozens of drones deploying simultaneously. This tactic aims to provide the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) with massed reconnaissance or saturation attacks against enemy targets far beyond its shoreline.
Beyond its swarm capability, the Jiu Tian is designed for modularity. Engineers can switch its payload within two hours, allowing the drone to adapt for different missions, including Electronic warfare, Precision strike and support, Maritime surveillance and Emergency rescue
It can also carry a mix of air-to-air, anti-ship, and air-to-ground missiles, as well as guided bombs weighing up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lbs). It can also act as a communications relay, extending the range of the smaller drones it releases. This flexibility means the Jiu Tian is not limited to combat—it could play roles in civilian and disaster response missions as well.
Tom Shugart, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told Newsweek, “It’s an interesting concept, but without stealth, the mothership drone could be destroyed before getting close enough to release its swarm. Still, it’s worth monitoring its progress.”
A retired U.S. Air Force instructor on social media added, “This is like trying to sneak into enemy airspace with a giant fuel tanker. It’s simply not survivable without heavy support.” The PLA is rapidly expanding its naval and aerial capabilities, aiming to challenge U.S. dominance in the Asia-Pacific region.
