Latest news with #ShaanxiUnmannedEquipmentTechnology
The Age
20-05-2025
- The Age
China prepares to launch large 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 Tian, 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 Tian was developed by Shaanxi Unmanned Equipment Technology and was 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 7000 kilometres. It has a take-off weight of 16 tonnes and a transporting capacity of six tonnes, which could be used to carry anything from surveillance technology to ammunition. 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.
Sydney Morning Herald
20-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
China prepares to launch large 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 Tian, 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 Tian was developed by Shaanxi Unmanned Equipment Technology and was 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 7000 kilometres. It has a take-off weight of 16 tonnes and a transporting capacity of six tonnes, which could be used to carry anything from surveillance technology to ammunition. 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.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
China to launch drone mothership
Credit: X/@XH_Lee23 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 over one 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, 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. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
China's Jiutian SS-UAV spooks US, challenges its air superiority, but can it outfly latest air defenses?
Jiutian drone unveiled amid high-tech race The unveiling of the Jiutian SS-UAV at the 15th Zhuhai Airshow was no ordinary drone demo and the Americans were watching it closely. Developed by AVIC in partnership with Shaanxi Unmanned Equipment Technology and Haige Communications, the Jiutian enters a new category: super-high altitude mothership UAVs. It has a max takeoff weight of 16 tons, a 25-meter wingspan, and can cruise at 15,000 meters, above the reach of many traditional air defense systems, and is expected to undertake its first test flight in June 2025. Chinese media claims the mother drone is powered by a high-thrust turbofan engine and has a range of 7,000 kilometers (extendable to 36 hours endurance). The Jiutian reportedly carries eight underwing hardpoints and a modular bay capable of launching smaller drones for reconnaissance, strike, or jamming missions. It integrates cutting-edge technologies like quantum-encrypted communications, hydrogen propulsion, AI swarm control, and supermaterial stealth design. Also read: US lost seven multi-million-dollar drones in Yemen area since March 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Vietnam: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo Strategic reach and multi-role modularity Unlike single-role UAVs, the Jiutian is engineered for adaptability. Its modular Isomerism Hive Module allows mission-specific configurations, from electronic warfare to cargo transport. Analysts view it as part of China's growing toolkit to project power into contested regions such as the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, and even as far as Guam. The platform's versatility mirrors both the RQ-4 Global Hawk's surveillance prowess and the MQ-9 Reaper's strike capabilities, while adding swarm-launch functionality the US has not yet fielded in an operational UAV. The combination raises serious concerns for Western strategists tracking Chinese UAV innovation. Can US defenses intercept the Jiutian? While the Jiutian's 15,000-meter ceiling would place it beyond many legacy air defense systems, modern high-altitude interceptors can still engage it. The US THAAD system intercepts up to 150 kilometers. Patriot PAC-3, South Korea's KM-SAM Block II, Japan's Aegis BMD, and Taiwan's Sky Bow III can all reach or exceed 20 kilometers. Live Events Also read: Mystery drone swarms breach US military airspace—and Washington is unprepared Despite Jiutian's ability to fly at 15,000 meters, modern US and allied systems such as THAAD, Patriot PAC-3, and Aegis BMD are equipped to intercept threats at or above this altitude. This puts the Jiutian at significant risk in contested regions with updated air defense infrastructure. While it may remain untouchable over territories protected by outdated SAMs, any attempt to enter airspace secured by next-gen missile systems would likely require suppression of enemy air defenses or support from other PLA assets. Its survivability is highly conditional on the sophistication of the defenses it faces. China's larger UAV strategy The Jiutian is more than just a new drone, it reflects Beijing's grander ambition. Backed by over 3 billion yuan in funding and an entirely domestic supply chain, the program represents a leap in both AI integration and modular UAV design. Haige Communications' role in developing digital twins, quantum communication layers, and electromagnetic resilience tools is also a first for China's UAV fleet. The fourth Jiutian prototype was completed by April 2025, just 18 months after the project's launch, signaling accelerated development and testing cycles. Civil and naval potential While clearly designed for military superiority, the Jiutian's applications are not limited to warfare. Its modular systems make it suitable for emergency logistics, border patrol, search and rescue, and natural disaster response. Future operations could include launches from 076-class amphibious ships, giving the PLA added reach in offshore operations and naval integration. Also read: U.S. military stunned as Houthi rebels down 7 high-tech Reaper drones in weeks, costing over $300 million and raising eyebrows Military analysts caution that while unmanned assets reduce pilot risk, they also lower the threshold for conflict.
