China's Jiutian drone swarm-launching UAV conducts first flight

AVIC's Jiutian SS-UAV No 004 was shown at Airshow China 2024, carrying a diverse range of armament on its eight underwing hardpoints. (Janes/Sam Wise)

A heavyweight, multirole unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which China unveiled in 2024 as a potential ‘drone mother ship', has conducted its maiden flight, according to images aired by the state-owned broadcaster, China Central Television (CCTV), on 11 and 12 December.

The UAV, which has been named ‘Jiutian' (‘Nine Heavens' or simply ‘High Sky'), has a maximum take-off weight of 16 tonnes and has been designed to loft 6 tonnes of weapons or cargo airborne, including swarms of small drones, according to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

Commissioned by the Shaanxi Unmanned Equipment Technology Company and developed by AVIC's First Aircraft Design and Research Institute, the turbofan-powered aircraft conducted its maiden flight in Pucheng county location, Shaanxi province, in north-central China, CCTV said on 11 December.

On 12 December, the broadcaster showed video footage of the aircraft taking off and flying over the airbase, with its landing gear in wheels-down position. The UAV was subsequently shown landing.

The aircraft was first unveiled at Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai as the smart-configuration support-UAV (SS-UAV). At the time, the aircraft had a serial number (No 004) painted on the rear fuselage. The aircraft employed for the maiden flight had the same number, according to images aired by CCTV, indicating that it is the same aircraft.

Capabilities

According to AVIC, the Jiutian has a top speed of 385 kt (a cruising speed of 377 kt), a ferry range of 7,000 km, and an endurance of 12 hours.