Jetank drone Photo: Screenshot from People’s Daily

China’s Jetank drone, dubbed an “airborne UAV carrier,” completed its maiden flight on Thursday in Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. Experts highlighted the aircraft’s large size and its potential to carry swarms of smaller drones.
The successful flight marks a new breakthrough in China’s large unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, the People’s Daily reported, citing the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

Its widespread deployment is expected to accelerate the integration of the industrial and innovation chains, inject new momentum into the high-quality development of the low-altitude economy and promote innovation and upgrading in the aviation industry, according to the People’s Daily. 

As a domestically developed large general-purpose UAV platform, the Jetank adopts a “universal platform with modular mission payload” design concept. Built on independently developed, integrated technological innovations, it features heavy payload capacity, a high service ceiling, a wide speed range, and short takeoff and landing capacity, the report said.

The Jetank drone is 16.35 meters long, has a wingspan of 25 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 16 tons, a payload capacity of 6,000 kilograms, an endurance of 12 hours, and a ferry range of 7,000 kilometers, ranking its performance among the top of similar products, the People’s Daily reported.

According to the People’s Daily report, with modular mission payloads, the Jetank drone can be widely adapted to a wide range of civilian applications, including transporting heavy supplies and providing precise logistics support to remote mountainous areas and islands; rapidly restoring communications and delivering disaster-relief equipment during emergencies; and performing geographic surveying, disaster assessment, and mineral exploration. It can also assist with cultural-relic surveys, maritime law enforcement, forest firefighting, and other sectors of the national economy.

The Jetank heavy unmanned aerial vehicle was first unveiled at the Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai, South China’s Guangdong Province. 

According to a previous report by China Central Television (CCTV) News, the Jetank drone also has military applications. It has eight hardpoints and can carry 1,000 kilogram-class guided bombs, air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, anti-ship missiles and loitering munitions. The aircraft features an open architecture and is equipped with rapidly replaceable mission pods. By swapping modular mission payloads, it can switch mission types within two hours to meet operational requirements such as airdrop and airlift, information support and countermeasures, and strike-and-support missions. It is suitable for both military and civilian use including systematic operations, transportation support, and emergency rescue.

Another standout feature of the Jetank UAV is the integration of a sophisticated isomerism-hive module within its fuselage. Capable of accommodating hundreds of loitering munitions or small drones, this mission pod has earned the Jetank the nickname “airborne UAV carrier,” according to the CCTV News report.

Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of the Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times that the Jetank drone is a world-class aerial UAV carrier. He noted its high maximum takeoff weight and high capacity, meaning the Jetank can release a swarm of smaller drones.

Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military affairs expert who closely observed the Jetank at the Airshow China 2024, also highlighted the size of the Jetank. He said that the huge drone has a payload capacity comparable to that of crewed fighters or even fighter bombers.