China has successfully launched the world's largest heavy-duty UAV

The Chinese Jiutian heavy unmanned aerial vehicle has successfully completed its maiden flight. This was reported on December 11 by the Xinhua News Agency with reference to the Chinese Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC).

"The Jiutian unmanned aerial vehicle has completed its first mission in the northwestern province of Shaanxi in northwestern China," the material says.

It is confirmed that the wing length of the UAV is 16.35 m and the span is 25 m. The maximum take—off weight of the drone is 16 tons, and the payload is 6 thousand kg. The Jiutian can operate autonomously for up to 12 hours, and its flight range is 7 thousand km.

"The UAV can be used to perform a variety of tasks, including accurate delivery of heavy loads to remote regions, resuming emergency communications, providing assistance in natural disasters, as well as providing services in the field of geographic surveying, assessing the situation during natural disasters and searching for minerals," the agency noted.

Jiutian was first presented at the Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai. It is considered the world's largest heavy-duty high-altitude drone, designed to enhance the combat effectiveness of swarm operations of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA). The UAV has eight suspension points for guided bombs, air-to-air missiles and anti-ship missiles, as well as for attack drones. Its fuselage can also accommodate more than a hundred small drones designed to launch in order to suppress enemy air defenses.

In January 2025, China tested a secret hypersonic missile. It is noted that these missiles may pose a threat to American military aircraft.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.