China to launch drone mothership
China is preparing to launch a new drone-carrying mothership capable of releasing 100 kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at the same time.
The Jiu Tan, which means 'high sky', is a high-altitude long-range UAV that can transport weapons and equipment.
Over the weekend, state media reported that the fourth prototype had completed its structural assembly and was undergoing installation and testing. It will set off on its maiden flight next month as China looks to boost its air force capabilities.
The Jiu Tan was developed by Shaanxi Unmanned Equipment Technology and was first unveiled at the Zhuhai air show, the largest in the country, in November.
The vehicle has a 25-metre wingspan and can fly for 12 hours, with a maximum range of 7,000 kilometres (4,350 miles). It has a take-off weight of 16 tons and a transporting capacity of six tons, which could be used to carry anything from surveillance technology to ammunition.
However, the most noteworthy part of the new aircraft is its ability to launch large quantities of drones at once, making it difficult for a defender to respond. Video footage released by state media replicates what this could look like.
Drone swarms can be hugely beneficial for intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance, which would be important in the event of an escalation in conflict between China and Taiwan.
The aircraft can also carry cruise missiles and medium-range air-to-air missiles, such as the PL-12E.
Its ability to reach high altitudes means it would be harder to detect from ground-based radar systems and could fly above many of the defence systems operational around the world.
Drone warfare has become increasingly important in recent years because of its central role in Russia's war in Ukraine.
Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukraine's production of drones – specifically first person view (FPV) drones, which are capable of destroying tanks – has surged.
Pat Harrigan, a member of the US House of Representatives, said last month that FPV drones were responsible for 80 per cent of Russian casualties in Ukraine.
Ukraine has also developed a growing fleet of long-range drones, capable of hitting military bases and weapons storage facilities deep inside Russia.
China already has a large drone capacity. Earlier this year, it tested the TP1000, the first unmanned transport aircraft capable of carrying more than a ton of goods.
The country has also previously operated long-endurance drones, such as the WZ-7 drone and the TB-001 Scorpion drone, around contested islands in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
The development of the Jia Tun could be the latest in China's effort to expand its aerial capabilities to rival those of the US. Experts have said that the drone-carrying mothership will be a probable competitor to two American carriers, the RQ-4 Global Hawk and the MQ-9 Reaper.
Neither the RQ-4 nor the MQ-9 are capable of the swarm strikes that make the Jia Tun a noteworthy addition to China's arsenal.
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