China’ Jiutian Drone

China’s New ‘Jiutian’ Drone Mothership Makes First Flight, Signaling Leap in Swarm-Warfare Ambitions

China’s Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has conducted the maiden flight of its massive drone-carrying mothership, the Jiutian, marking a major step in Beijing’s ambitions to field next-generation swarm-warfare platforms. The first flight took place on December 11, 2025,...
Jiutian SS-UAV rivals the United States’ MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-4 Global Hawk, though it diverges in mission design

China’s SS-UAV: Rise of Flying Drone Carrier and Future of Airborne Warfare

A new chapter in military aviation is unfolding over China’s skies. This summer, Jiutian, a private Chinese aerospace firm, will conduct the maiden flight of a revolutionary unmanned aircraft: the SS-UAV. More than just another entry in the growing list...