China is preparing to launch an advanced drone-carrying aircraft, the Jiu Tan (“High Sky”), capable of deploying up to 100 kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) simultaneously. The move marks a significant boost to China’s aerial warfare capabilities amid growing regional tensions.
The high-altitude, long-range Jiu Tan, developed by Shaanxi Unmanned Equipment Technology, recently completed structural assembly of its fourth prototype and is undergoing installation and testing ahead of a maiden flight planned for next month. The aircraft boasts a 25-metre wingspan, a 12-hour flight endurance, and a maximum range of 7,000 kilometres (4,350 miles).
With a take-off weight of 16 tons and a transport capacity of six tons, the Jiu Tan can carry surveillance equipment, ammunition, cruise missiles, and medium-range air-to-air missiles such as the PL-12E. Its ability to launch large swarms of kamikaze drones presents a formidable challenge for defenders, complicating interception efforts.
State media released video footage simulating drone swarm attacks, highlighting the strategic advantage such technology offers for intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, and potential military escalation scenarios, particularly in the Taiwan Strait.
China’s drone development is seen as part of a broader push to rival U.S. aerial capabilities. Experts suggest the Jiu Tan could compete with American platforms like the RQ-4 Global Hawk and the MQ-9 Reaper, although neither U.S. drone can execute large-scale swarm strikes comparable to those possible with the Jiu Tan.
The importance of drone warfare has surged recently, underscored by Russia’s use of unmanned systems in Ukraine. First-person view (FPV) drones, capable of destroying armored vehicles, reportedly caused 80% of Russian casualties in the conflict, according to U.S. officials.
China already operates various long-endurance drones, such as the WZ-7 and TB-001 Scorpion, in contested areas of the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. Earlier this year, it tested the TP1000, the country’s first unmanned transport aircraft capable of carrying over one ton of cargo.
