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China's Drone Mothership Can Carry 100 Drones
The Jiu Tian (“High Sky”) drone carrier is set for its inaugural mission by the end of June, 2025. It is intended to be a high-altitude, long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed as a force multiplier for the PLA’s (People’s Liberation Army) drone warfare and swarming capabilities.
(The Jiu Tian is a high-altitude, long-range unmanned aerial vehicle)
The drone carrier possesses a maximum range of 7,000 kilometers (nearly 4,500 miles) and an operational ceiling of 15,000 meters, placing it well above the engagement envelope of most medium-range air defense systems.Jiu Tian is configured for long-endurance missions across contested airspace with a maximum take-off weight of 16 tonnes (nearly 17.5 US tons) and a wingspan measuring 25 meters.
A specific feature of the UAV is its internal bay system, which is capable of releasing up to 100 loitering munitions or miniature drones, potentially including kamikaze-type UAVs.
Science fiction aficionado's recall the parent drone from Kill Decision (2012) by Daniel Suarez.
So the parent drone carries a spotter that it launches to confirm the presence of the target. The spotter descends, and we think it searches the vicinity, looking for the victim's face...
As a side note, the term "mother ship" was coined by sf author John W. Campbell in his 1930 classic story The Black Star Passes.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 6/11/2025)
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