China’s 16-Ton Jiutian Drone Completes Historic First Flight

China has achieved a major milestone in unmanned aviation after a massive drone weighing 16 tons completed its first flight.

The drone, known as Jiutian, carried out its maiden flight on December 11, 2025, in Shaanxi Province, located in northwest China. The flight marks a significant step forward in advanced aerospace technology.

A New Generation of Heavy-Lift Drones

Unlike most drones, which weigh only a few kilograms, Jiutian is a heavy-lift unmanned aircraft. At takeoff, it weighs 16 tons and can carry payloads of up to six tons.

Moreover, its modular design allows it to adapt to different missions. As a result, Jiutian can serve both civilian and military purposes.

Wide Range of Civilian Applications

Jiutian can support several civilian operations. These include cargo transportation, wildfire firefighting, weather monitoring, and disaster rescue missions.

In addition, the drone can take off and land on short runways. This capability increases its usefulness in remote and emergency areas.

Advanced Military Capabilities

From a defense perspective, Jiutian is considered a large pilotless military aircraft. It features internal compartments designed to carry various missiles for air-to-ground and air-to-air missions.

Most importantly, Jiutian can launch and control multiple smaller drones simultaneously. Analysts say this ability could significantly change modern warfare tactics.

Impressive Technical Specifications

Jiutian measures 16.35 meters in length, with a wingspan of 25 meters. When fully loaded with a 6,000-kilogram payload, it can fly for up to 12 hours.

Furthermore, the drone has a maximum range of 7,000 kilometers, depending on mission configuration.

Developed with Domestic Technology

The aircraft relies entirely on Chinese-developed technology. This allows it to handle heavy cargo, operate at different speeds, and perform efficiently under various conditions.

Aviation experts say this achievement highlights China’s growing strength in building multi-role unmanned aerial systems.

Public Debut and Industry Impact

Jiutian was first unveiled publicly at Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai. Since then, it has drawn global attention for its size and capabilities.

Experts believe the successful first flight positions China as a leader in next-generation drone development.