Drones are becoming an increasingly important component of modern aerial warfare and have acquired a doctrinal value. The active usage of drones in recent conflicts around the world bears testimony to this fact. After playing a crucial role in the recent stand-off between India and Pakistan, the drones stunned the world when Ukraine, in Operation Spider’s Web, struck multiple high-value targets deep inside Russian territory with the help of drones.  In the backdrop of the rapidly evolving role of drones in contemporary warfare, China has unveiled its latest military innovation, a drone mothership.

The Jiu Tian can carry up to 100 kamikaze drones for coordinated swarm attacks.

China’s military aviation has been advancing at an astonishing pace, particularly in the development of drone technology. Today, China’s ever-modernising UAV fleet comprises advanced platforms like the stealthy CH-7, WZ-7, the supersonic reconnaissance WZ-8, the rotary-wing WZ-9, Divine Eagle, and the anti-submarine Wing Loong-X, among others.

China’s latest development, the drone mothership, which is officially known as the Jiu Tian SS-UAV, was revealed at the Zhuhai Air Show in November 2024. Regarding its features, the platform has a wingspan of 82 feet and a maximum take-off weight of 16 tonnes. Moreover, it is powered by a jet engine and can operate at altitudes as high as 15,000 metres for as long as 12 hours. According to the open-source data, the platform is likely to have an operational range of 7,000 kilometres.

Its maximum payload capacity is six tonnes, which includes up to 100 kamikaze drones or loitering munitions that will be launched from dual bays on either side of its fuselage to enable coordinated swarm attacks. The platform also features eight external hardpoints, which will allow it to carry medium-range air-to-air missiles such as the PL-12E and cruise missiles, thereby extending its operational versatility.

The Jiu Tian drone mothership will potentially enhance China’s aerial warfare capabilities, as it would be capable of deploying swarms of AI-guided kamikaze drones and other loitering munitions on a magnificent scale, which can saturate the enemy’s defence systems.

Its large size and lack of stealth make it vulnerable to enemy air defenses before drone deployment.

However, as details about the platform are yet to emerge, aviation experts must be looking for answers to some critical questions. Firstly, there are valid concerns about the platform’s apparent lack of stealth and larger size, which, in an environment of BVR engagements, makes it vulnerable to an adversary’s first shot before it has even the opportunity to deploy its drone swarms. Tom Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Centre for a New American Security, has pointed out that the Jiu Tian “doesn’t appear to be particularly stealthy” and could be “subject to destruction by enemy aircraft or air defences” well before reaching a launch position.

Another critical question, that the pundits must be looking at is regarding the platform’s likely theatre of deployment. The larger size and absence of stealth may make it a lethal weapon in non-contested airspace, but employability in a highly contested aerial environment would be a surmounting challenge. These concerns carry weight because advanced U.S. drones like the Predator and Reaper have been successfully downed in the recent past by groups like Houthis, which have meagre resources.

This makes the platform’s deployment in highly contested zones such as the South China Sea or the Taiwan Strait particularly questionable, as the advanced air defence systems of the US would be in a comfortable position to detect and neutralise it. To be specific the platform would face a robust multi-layered air defence, which includes long-range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) like the Patriot PAC-3, ship-based SM-6 missiles, and fighter jets like F-35 with advanced sensors.

Consequently, it leaves China with a limited set of options for the deployment of the said platform. Theoretically speaking, it could be employed in theatres, which are characterised by low or negligible resistance, where the risk of interception is minimal, or where the air superiority has already been achieved. However, this also raises another fundamental question: if the operational environment poses little to no threat, what strategic value does deploying such a massive, high-cost system offer in the first place?

Deployment in contested zones like the South China Sea faces significant challenges from advanced US defenses.

Moreover, there is also a question of whether such permissive theatres are available within the context of China’s broader military strategy, which is primarily designed to deter or counter high-end adversaries, chief among them, the US. In this strategic calculus, potential conflict zones like the Taiwan Strait or South China Sea are unlikely to present the kind of permissive environment the platform would require.

Thus, reflecting on the above discussion, it can be inferred that the drone mothership, indeed, represents a bold step in China’s military aviation strategy. However, its true effectiveness will only be revealed in actual combat scenarios. As Siemon Wezeman, a senior researcher at SIPRI, aptly stated, “Tests and exercises can certainly tell most about capabilities of weapons, but the ultimate test is often combat.”

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.