The latest huge Jiutian SS-UAV by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is to take to the air for the first time as part of the start of tests for supply to the armed forces of China.
This information was disseminated by the Chinese news agency CCTV. At the same time, a video with computer graphics was added to this news on the network, in which the Jiutian SS-UAV launches dozens, if not hundreds of kamikaze drones. At the same time, the latter were depicted in the form of Shahed-type UAVs.
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Given that the Shahed-136 UAV is 3.5 meters long and has a wingspan of 2.5 meters, it may seem that the Jiutian SS-UAV is a huge drone, comparable in size to the Ukrainian-developed An-124 Ruslan strategic airlift four-engined aircraft. But the reality is completely different as well as less impressive.
The Jiutian SS-UAV was first demonstrated in November 2024 at the Airshow China exhibition in Zhuhai. This UAV has, although impressive, but far from record-breaking dimensions: a maximum take-off weight of 16 tons, of which up to 6 tons of payload, a wingspan of 25 meters and a length of 16 meters.
This drone cannot be a carrier of Shahed-136 drones, especially in such numbers as were presented in the aforementioned video. In particular, more realistic renders show that conventional copters are launched from the Jiutian SS-UAV.
Although this indicates the possibility of using this UAV for swarm use of drones on the battlefield, it means not only significantly less strike capabilities, but also that the tactics of using the Jiutian SS-UAV on the battlefield should be different than what was shown.
It is one thing when a giant queen drone, which can cover 7 thousand kilometers and launch a swarm of long-range drones that will fly another thousand kilometers, can look like a strategic solution for transcontinental strikes. However, it looks completely different when it comes to a large UAV that is supposed to launch kamikaze drones over the battlefield – this is currently not so easy to implement in practice – a UAV of such dimensions can be easy prey in modern conditions.
At the same time, one should not forget that the more traditional combat equipment of the Jiutian SS-UAV in the form of cruise missiles as well as long-range glide bombs can be a more effective and practical solution. This drone has a total of eight suspension points, of which six can be used for heavy weapons, while two more – for air-to-air missiles.
Previously, the Jiutian SS-UAV was demonstrated together with the KD-88 anti-ship missile (TL-17 in the export version) with a flight range of up to 200 km as well as with a Chinese copy of the American AGM-154 JSOW glide bomb - LY-V501, from which it is possible to expect a flight range of about 130 km (when dropped from high altitude). Both types of weapons can be used without the need to enter the range of the enemy's medium-range air defense systems.
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