Aviation News – China’s state-owned AVIC has completed the maiden flight of its new heavy-lift drone “mothership,” Jiutian, in Shaanxi Province—signaling a strategic advance in large-scale unmanned aviation operations.
The Jiutian took to the air on December 11, 2025, from Pucheng in northwestern China. Developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the platform is designed to carry up to six tons of payload, including munitions, drone swarms or humanitarian relief supplies. Its debut marks a milestone in China’s expanding portfolio of long-range unmanned systems.
The aircraft functions as an aerial launch and logistics hub, enabling the deployment of multiple drones from a single platform. This capability enhances operational flexibility, allowing rapid response in military, disaster-relief or remote-access missions where conventional aircraft may be limited.
