China’s New ‘Flying Hive’ Drone: Inside the SS‑UAV “Jiu Tian” That Could Spew 100 Drones—Specs, Missions, and the Reality Check

• What it is: A large, jet‑powered Smart‑configuration Support UAV (SS‑UAV) nicknamed “Jiu Tian” (九天; “High Sky”)—a modular, high‑altitude, long‑range “drone mothership” unveiled at Airshow China 2024. AVIC presented it as a “large unmanned aerial common platform.” Chinese materials also describe it as a “flexible‑configuration heavy UAV.” Janes
• Size & performance: Length 16.35 m, wingspan 25 m, height 4.99 m; maximum mission altitude 15,000 m; max speed ≈378 kt (≈700 km/h); endurance >12 h; ferry range ≈7,000 km. MTOW 16 t. Janes
• Airframe layout: High straight wing with winglets, H‑tail, single turbofan mounted above the fuselage, nose radome plus an EO/IR turret; eight under‑wing pylons visible on the display airframe. The War Zone
• Payload & power: Internal modular mission bay (≈6 × 1.5 × 1.1 m) rated up to 4,000 kg; total payload cited up to 6,000 kg; 90 kW available electrical power for mission kits. Janes
• Swarm carrier concept: Side‑opening internal “Hive” module labeled 异构蜂巢任务舱 designed to eject up to ~100 small drones/loitering munitions in flight; also carries weapons on 8 pylons. The War Zone
• Roles envisioned: Standoff strike, maritime attack, ISR, electronic warfare, comms relay, logistics/air‑drop, and civil emergency response—enabled by swappable mission containers. Janes
• Program status (Oct 7, 2025): State and industry press projected a first mission/flight window by late June 2025; unverified posts later claimed a June first flight. As of September 2025, independent confirmation remained unclear in open sources. South China Morning Post

In‑depth technical brief

1) What the SS‑UAV is—and isn’t

The “SS‑UAV” label appears on the show airframe and is rendered in English by Western defense outlets as Smart‑configuration Support UAV. AVIC’s launch language pitched it as a modular “large unmanned aerial common platform,” i.e., a base aircraft whose payload bay and under‑wing stations accept missionized kits for combat and support. Chinese write‑ups call it a “flexible‑configuration heavy UAV” (灵活配置重型无人机), highlighting modularity over any single role. Janes

Physically, Jiu Tian is airliner‑sized for a UAV in span, but closer to a jet‑powered HALE truck than a stealth UCAV. Public images and on‑site placards show a high, low‑sweep wing with winglets, H‑tail, and a single top‑mounted turbofan over the fuselage—which helps keep the inlet away from runway debris and leaves the belly clear for modular bays. The nose carries a radome and a chin EO/IR turret, and there are four pylons per wing. The War Zone

2) Dimensions, flight envelope, and propulsion

AVIC‑released specifications at Airshow China 2024 list 16.35 m length, 25 m span, 4.99 m height; max mission altitude 15 km; Vmax ≈378 kt (≈700 km/h) and Vmin ≈108 kt (≈200 km/h); endurance >12 h; ferry range ~7,000 km; MTOW 16 t. These place it in the HALE class, trading stealth for altitude, endurance, and volume. Janes

Chinese coverage reproducing show‑board data reiterates these values and adds that the platform offers short‑takeoff/landing margins relative to its size (a function of its broad wing) and generous on‑board electrical power for payloads (see §4). icswb.com

3) The modular bay: dimensions, interfaces, and “Hive” module

At Zhuhai the SS‑UAV was displayed with a rectangular internal mission container concept measuring roughly 6.0 m (L) × 1.5 m (W) × 1.1 m (H) and a 4‑ton mass limit, slotted into the belly through side‑opening doors. AVIC described a modular/open‑systems architecture and “broad‑spectrum situational fusion perception,” i.e., multi‑sensor fusion and a common avionics/power backbone to support ISR, EW, comms, or cargo modules. Janes

The most talked‑about insert is the “Isomerism Hive Mission Module” (异构蜂巢任务舱), whose name hints that cells inside the bay can house heterogeneous small UAVs or loitering munitions. Defense reporting and show imagery indicate dual side doors and ejection/dispensing mechanisms consistent with in‑flight swarm release. The War Zone

4) Power, hardpoints, and total payload

Beyond the 4‑t internal module limit, materials at the show cite maximum payload around 6,000 kg across internal and external stations, supported by ≈90 kW of electrical power for mission systems—useful for EW pods, high‑demand sensors, or comms gateways. The airframe exhibits eight under‑wing pylons for stores or pods. icswb.com

5) Swarm carrier mechanics and C2

Chinese and international reporting state the SS‑UAV is intended to release up to ~100 small drones/loitering munitions from the internal bay. Conceptually, Jiu Tian acts as a standoff ferry and command node, pushing disposable UAVs far forward without risking a crewed aircraft. Comms‑relay payloads are part of the concept to maintain links and cooperative behavior among the children drones. South China Morning Post

Reality check: Analysts note physics and C2 constraints. Small FPV‑style quadcopters cannot operate efficiently at 50,000 ft, so the mothership would likely have to descend to release them—increasing vulnerability. Managing dozens‑to‑hundreds of drones demands autonomy and robust relays; true “swarm” behaviors at scale remain a work in progress globally. Popular Mechanics

6) Mission sets the platform advertises

AVIC and Chinese coverage emphasize a multi‑mission playbook: maritime strike, anti‑ship/land‑attack with glide bombs and missiles, ISR with large‑aperture sensors, EW/jamming, comms relay, air‑drop/logistics, and civil SAR. Static loads shown at Zhuhai included LS‑6 glide bombs and other A2G munitions, while some displays even hung a PL‑12‑class AAM—likely to signal flexibility rather than an air‑combat focus. Janes

7) Survivability and the right way to use it

By design, the SS‑UAV is not stealthy; it’s a high‑altitude, high‑volume platform. Western analysts therefore expect a stand‑off concept of operations—operating outside the heart of modern IADS and launching long‑range children (loitering weapons or small fixed‑wing OWA drones) whose own range enables mass, angle‑of‑attack diversity, and saturation. Comparisons to U.S. Rapid Dragon (palletized release) are common, with the SS‑UAV being a dedicated unmanned analogue. The War Zone

8) Development lineage and industry team

Airshow materials and subsequent reporting credit AVIC with the reveal, alongside references to Shaanxi Unmanned Equipment Technology Co., Ltd. as a core developer; other accounts cite involvement from Xi’an Chida Aircraft Parts Manufacturing and Haige Communications in manufacturing/integration. This suggests a consortium model typical of large Chinese aerospace projects. Janes

9) Program status, timelines, and what’s been verified

• Debut: Static display and specs public at Airshow China (Zhuhai), Nov 12–17, 2024. Janes
• Targets: State and industry outlets said a first mission/flight would occur by late June 2025. South China Morning Post
• Claims of flight: Some Chinese media/social posts claimed early June 2025 flight tests with releases of numerous small drones; these have not been corroborated by AVIC with official flight footage. Sina Finance
• As of Sep–Oct 2025: Major English‑language technical coverage still describes flight status as unconfirmed/rumored—a strong indicator that public proof remains limited. Popular Mechanics

Technical specifications (from published show data and open sources)

Notes: Figures above come from show placards and official descriptions; as with any early‑stage program, exact values may shift as prototypes mature. The “up to 100” figure reflects concept claims, not independently verified operational practice. Janes

How it might actually fight

Standoff swarm ferry. The most credible early use‑case is standoff deployment of long‑range loitering munitions or small fixed‑wing drones from outside contested airspace. From high altitude, releases could fan out in multiple axes, complicating defenders’ radar picture and forcing interceptor over‑commitment. The mothership’s comms‑relay module would help maintain C2 and mesh networking among children drones. Defense Update

Massed strike adjunct. With eight pylons and a 6‑t payload budget, SS‑UAV could also act as an attritable arsenal drone, slinging glide bombs or anti‑ship/anti‑radiation missiles in volume, while its internal bay carries extra fuel, EW, or decoys—depending on the module installed. Displays at Zhuhai showcased exactly this “toolkit” framing. icswb.com

ISR/EW truck. The large bay, power margin (≈90 kW), and altitude combine to make a credible ISR & jamming platform; as a relay node, it could extend line‑of‑sight for swarms or ground units and support beyond‑line‑of‑sight links. icswb.com

But survivability is conditional. Without signature reduction, SS‑UAV is not built to penetrate modern IADS. Western analysis stresses employment outside high‑threat envelopes and/or against lower‑end air defenses, at least until autonomy and child‑drone performance evolve. Popular Mechanics

Development maturity and what to watch next

1. Verified flight test evidence. Despite planned June 2025 timelines and later claims of flight, independent confirmation remains elusive in major open sources as of September 2025—watch for official AVIC/CCTV flight footage or Jane’s/industry confirmation. South China Morning Post
2. Children‑drone types. The bay’s cells could host mixed geometries (quad‑rotor FPVs, small fixed‑wing LMs, decoys). Expect public demos of ejection mechanisms and in‑air activation/mesh‑link procedures. The War Zone
3. Module ecosystem. AVIC has floated logistics, survey, EW, and comms kits; clearer interface standards and swap times (Chinese reporting claims <2 h swaps) will determine true operational flexibility. Newsweek
4. CONOPS + teaming. Look for pairing with shore‑based radar, maritime patrol assets, or other drones to create kill‑web effects similar to U.S. palletized‑effects concepts. Defense Update

Sources & provenance (selected)

• Technical specs & modular bay dimensions: Jane’s Airshow China 2024 coverage (length, span, height, altitude, speeds, endurance, 7,000 km ferry range; 6 × 1.5 × 1.1 m module; 4‑t module limit; open systems). Default
• Swarm claims & timeline: SCMP report on “drone carrier” Jiu Tian (planned 100‑drone release; MTOW 16 t; June 2025 mission window). South China Morning Post
• Airframe details & “Hive” label: The War Zone analysis (top‑mounted turbofan, H‑tail, under‑nose EO/IR, 8 pylons, “Isomerism Hive” labeling). The War Zone
• Payload power & external loads on display: Chinese defense press reprinting show placards (90 kW to payloads; 6,000 kg payload; example stores). icswb.com
• Side‑bay deployment & comparative concepts: Defense‑Update (dual side doors; parallels to Rapid Dragon). Defense Update
• Flight status skepticism & practical constraints: Popular Mechanics (as of Sep 19, 2025: flight unconfirmed; autonomy and altitude‑release limitations discussed with RAND commentary). Popular Mechanics

Bottom line

China’s SS‑UAV “Jiu Tian” is best understood as a high‑altitude, modular UAV “truck” built to deliver mass and flexibility—not as a stealth UCAV. The numbers published at Zhuhai (size, altitude, payload, bay dimensions) are credible show specs; the 100‑drone swarm remains a concept awaiting publicly verified flight demos. If the module ecosystem and C2/autonomy mature, SS‑UAVs could become potent standoff arsenal/swarm ferries—but they will live or die by how they’re used, where they’re flown, and what they release.