XPost: alt.defense, alt.politics, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/19/china-to-launch-drone-mothership/
New high-altitude aircraft is designed to be capable of
releasing a swarm of 100 attack drones
China is preparing to launch a new drone-carrying mothership
capable of releasing 100 kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs) at the same time.
The Jiu Tan, which means “high sky”, is a high-altitude
long-range UAV that can transport weapons and equipment.
Over the weekend, state media reported that the fourth
prototype had completed its structural assembly and was
undergoing installation and testing. It will set off on
its maiden flight next month as China looks to boost its
air force capabilities.
The Jiu Tan was developed by Shaanxi Unmanned Equipment
Technology and was first unveiled at the Zhuhai air show,
the largest in the country, in November.
The vehicle has a 25-metre wingspan and can fly for 12
hours, with a maximum range of 7,000 kilometres (4,350 miles).
It has a take-off weight of 16 tons and a transporting
capacity of six tons, which could be used to carry anything
from surveillance technology to ammunition.
. . .
Kind of like a large turbofan cargo plane, except
built with special mods to instantly spew out a
huge swarm of attack drones. Apparently even this
'mothership' is remote-operated/programmable.
Probably has some stealth mods too.
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