China’s aviation sector achieved a significant technological milestone on Thursday, December 12, 2025, with the successful maiden flight of the Jiutian (High Sky), a large multifunctional unmanned jet aircraft. The prototype conducted its inaugural flight from an airport in Pucheng, Shaanxi Province, completing a brief aerial demonstration before returning safely to its departure point.
Developed by the AVIC First Aircraft Institute for State-owned Shaanxi Unmanned Equipment Technology, the Jiutian represents a sophisticated advancement in unmanned aerial systems. The aircraft measures 16.4 meters in length with an impressive 25-meter wingspan, boasting a maximum takeoff weight of 16 metric tons and a payload capacity of up to 6 tons. With an operational ceiling of 15 kilometers and an endurance of 12 hours or 7,000 kilometers per mission, the platform demonstrates remarkable range and altitude capabilities.
The Jiutian’s modular design architecture enables exceptional mission flexibility, allowing for various payload configurations including guided munitions, air-to-air missiles, cruise missiles, and loitering munitions. A distinctive feature is its compartmentalized internal bay, capable of housing over 100 loitering munitions or small attack drones, effectively functioning as a ‘mothership’ for drone swarm operations.
Beyond military applications, the unmanned jet excels in civilian roles including heavy cargo transportation to remote mountainous regions and offshore islands, emergency communications restoration, disaster relief operations, geographic mapping, mineral surveys, cultural relic documentation, maritime patrol, and forest fire suppression.
According to Wang Yanan, Chief Editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, the Jiutian’s substantial size and payload capacity enable extended operations behind enemy air defenses. The platform can perform long-range detection and tracking of naval targets followed by anti-ship missile engagements, or deploy drone swarms to overwhelm defensive systems in asymmetric warfare scenarios. Multiple Jiutian aircraft can operate collaboratively in fleet formations for enhanced mission effectiveness.
The Jiutian was initially unveiled to the international community at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, in November 2024. Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), the nation’s premier aircraft manufacturer, confirmed that the maiden flight successfully validated the drone’s fundamental design parameters and basic flight performance characteristics.