The recent unveiling of China’s drone mothership highlights Beijing’s intent to become a leader in drone warfare.
China’s Jiu Tian drone mothership is preparing for its maiden mission at the end of the month. The mission will mark the beginning of a series of tests before its potential deployment. The mothership’s development is another milestone in an emerging truth about modern warfare, a truth that has been on full display in the Ukraine war—drones are becoming a cornerstone of the modern battlefield.
Representing a significant enhancement in China’s UAV capabilities, the Jiu Tian offers enhanced operational flexibility and the ability to conduct complex, coordinated drone missions. While the mothership faces certain limitations, its features will make it a formidable asset in modern military operations.
What Can the Jiu Tian Do?
Reminiscent of a weapon found in science fiction films, the Jiu Tian was unveiled last November at the Zhuhai Air Show. Designed for high-altitude, long-endurance operations, the mothership is capable of deploying up to 100 loitering munitions or kamikaze drones in a single mission, making it a formidable force multiplier in modern warfare.
Configured in many respects like a conventional aircraft, the Jiu Tian has impressive specifications that allow the mothership to operate above the reach of many medium-range air defense systems, making it suitable for deep-strike missions and surveillance operations.
As one might expect from a force multiplier capable of carrying 100 drones, the Jiu Tian is quite large. The mothership’s wingspan measures 82 feet; its maximum payload capacity is 6 tons, while its maximum takeoff weight is 16 tons. The Jiu Tian can operate within a range of 4,350 miles and at a ceiling of up to 50,000 feet, and can fly for upwards of 36 hours.
The Mothership Acts as a Force Multiplier for China
The Jiu Tian can release up to 100 drones simultaneously from its modular belly-mounted compartments. The drones can be configured for various roles, including reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and precision strikes. The modular nature of the aircraft’s architecture allows for rapid reconfiguration, enabling the Jiu Tian and her drones to carry out missions ranging from high-security transport, border defense, and emergency rescue operations.
The Jiu Tian is not merely an offensive platform. The mothership is fully equipped to handle intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions and electronic warfare missions, making the aircraft versatile for a variety of operational scenarios.
As one might expect, the deployed drones can be operated autonomously using AI and can coordinate with one another to execute complex attack patterns and adapt to dynamic battlefield conditions. Each drone is equipped with a sensor turret featuring electro-optical and infrared cameras, as well as a radar system allowing it to perform ISR missions. The aircraft can also carry jamming equipment to disrupt enemy communications and radar systems, making the mothership suitable for operation in contested environments.
The strategic implications for the Jiu Tian are clear. China will have enhanced swarm warfare capabilities, enabling the PLA to coordinate drone assaults that can overwhelm adversary defenses. The Jiu Tian will need to be factored into any war planning scenario involving China as a participant.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
Image: Shutterstock / FOTOGRIN.
