China's Jiutian SS‑UAV poised for strategic test flights
The Chinese Jiutian SS-UAV drone, presented by AVIC, will soon begin testing, reports the Ukrainian portal Defense Express.
The Chinese Jiutian SS-UAV drone, developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), will soon take flight as part of tests before its introduction to the Chinese armed forces. The drone is expected to weigh approximately 15,000 kg with a wingspan reaching 25 metres. Inside, there is space for FPV drones, which are intended to conduct swarm strikes.
Advanced armament of Jiutian SS-UAV
The Jiutian SS-UAV was first showcased in November 2024 at the Airshow China exhibition in Zhuhai. The drone has a maximum takeoff weight of 15,000 kg, with a payload of 6,000 kg. Its wingspan is 25 metres, and its length is nearly 16 metres. The drone is equipped with eight hardpoints, six of which can be used for heavy weaponry and two for air-to-air missiles.
The Jiutian SS-UAV can be armed with KD-88 anti-ship missiles, which have a range of up to 200 km, and the Chinese equivalent of the American AGM-154 JSOW bomb, the LY-V501, which can reach up to 130 km when released from high altitude. This capability allows the drone to operate beyond the medium-range air defense systems of adversaries.
Although the Jiutian SS-UAV is not capable of carrying a large number of kamikaze drones, as suggested by earlier visualizations (videos on the internet suggested space for up to 100 Shaheds on board), it still provides significant support for the Chinese armed forces. Its ability to carry modern armaments makes it a valuable tool on the contemporary battlefield.
