Jiu Tian (drone)

History

2024: Product Announcement

In early November 2024, it became known that at the international aerospace exhibition in Zhuhai, China will present a basic 10-ton UAV that can launch a whole swarm of drones from the air. The drone, named Jiu Tian, which means "High Sky" in Chinese, is powered by jet engines and developed by the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

The base drone uses a conventional tricycle landing gear and landing gear, as well as a jet engine located at the top of the central fuselage area. It looks like a regular attack aircraft, but the central lifting section is called an "isomeric module," thereby showing that the mother ship can launch an entire family of drones for various air operations.

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Фото: X/Hurin92

The ability to launch and return drones to a ship directly in the air can extend the range of operations of any army. In such cases, small drones can receive an additional range of movements for reconnaissance missions, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as for electronic warfare. Thus, although a detailed description of the characteristics of the Chinese drone carrier has not yet been published, it is likely that it will be primarily put in the service of the People's Liberation Army of China.

The new UAV is not the only aircraft that will debut at the aircraft exhibition in Zhuhai. A military aircraft of the J-15T Navy, a new generation fighter designed to be launched from the latest Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian, will also be presented there. In addition, the presentation of the latest J-35A stealth fighter and the HQ-19 surface-to-air missile caused a great resonance.^[1]

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