China announced that the Jiu Tian, or Nine Heavens, an unmanned “drone mothership” capable of releasing up to 100 smaller drones simultaneously, is set to undergo its first test flight within days. According to state broadcaster CCTV, the jet-powered drone developed by the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China and built by Xi’an Chida Aircraft Parts Manufacturing, is designed to enhance the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force’s aerial combat capabilities by deploying swarms of drones to overwhelm enemy air defense systems. The Jiu Tian, operating at super-high altitudes, can carry up to six tonnes of ammunition and smaller drones, boasting a maximum range of 7,000 kilometers.
