Giant Chinese Drone Mothership Set to Deploy 100 Small Attack Drones. Why Hasn't the USA Developed a Similar Technology?
The U.S. Air Force is retiring its RQ-4 drones due to their vulnerability during combat, creating a void in the aerial surveillance and reconnaissance sector. Meanwhile, a new player has entered the scene - the Jiu Tian, a drone mothership developed by China's China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
The Jiu Tian, or "Ninth Heaven," is a 25-meter wingspan aircraft that belongs to the class of extra-large drones, similar to the U.S. Air Force's RQ-4 Global Hawk. Propelled by a single engine, it can reach speeds of up to 435 miles per hour with a range of 4,350 miles while supporting up to 6.6-ton payloads.
The Jiu Tian is designed to carry and launch smaller drones. It can release up to 100 small, kamikaze drones from its side-mounted payload bays. Each drone onboard the Jiu Tian would require a human operator, potentially necessitating a satellite relay for long-range operations.
However, the mothership-swarm concept needs to become more autonomous, with pre-programmed flight plans and potentially real-time decision-making capabilities. The FPV-launch systems of the Jiu Tian seem to rely on autonomy technology that doesn't exist yet, which is a challenge that needs to be addressed.
The Jiu Tian is not immune to the vulnerabilities that plague drone technology. Motherships would have to fly lower to release drones, making them vulnerable to modern-day Surface-to-Air Missiles. Additionally, tiny drones have difficulty operating at high altitudes due to thin air preventing lift and thrust. Dropping mini-drones from high altitudes can result in them being out of range of their target due to wind buffeting.
Despite these challenges, the Jiu Tian is equipped with advanced features. Every drone onboard the Jiu Tian can be fitted with sensors and lethal warheads, enabling them to target and attack various objects such as armored vehicles, radars, and individual soldiers. The Jiu Tian also sports eight underwing pylons supporting a range of heavy weapons, including heavy guided bombs, supersonic anti-ship missiles, air-to-air missiles, and powerful air-launched ballistic missiles.
The U.S. military is also exploring similar technologies. They are interested in systems capable of launching small drones from large manned cargo planes or tankers, such as the Rapid Dragon system and Common Launch Tubes, but these are not intended for penetrating serious air defenses.
In a notable development, the U.S. Navy tested a mass drone-drop concept nine years ago, releasing 103 Perdix drones. The Jiu Tian was first unveiled at the Zhuhai airshow in November 2024, and four were assembled by April, according to Chinese state media.
The Jiu Tian represents a significant step forward in drone technology, particularly in the area of drone motherships. As the technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see more advanced and autonomous drone swarms capable of performing various missions across vast geographic areas.
