Jiutian (Nine Heavens)

Jiutian (Nine Heavens) overview

Jiutian, translated as Nine Heavens and also identified as the SS-UAV, is a Chinese heavy unmanned jet designed for missions ranging from cargo and disaster response to ISR, strike, and deployment of smaller drones. Its public debut at Airshow China 2024 showed a large modular bay advertised for swarm carriage plus eight external hardpoints. Exhibition figures describe roughly 16 tonnes maximum takeoff weight and up to six tonnes of payload.

A prototype completed its maiden flight on 11 December 2025, moving Jiutian beyond the mock-up stage. The aircraft's proposed 7,000 km range, 12-hour endurance, and 15,000 m ceiling are manufacturer claims, not independently demonstrated operational figures.

Through 2026 the program remained in flight development, with analysts focusing on its potential to release reconnaissance, decoy, electronic-warfare, or strike drones from outside the densest threat zones. Its large payload bay also leaves open a less dramatic but important logistics role for remote or austere operations.

Armament

Up to eight external hardpoints plus modular internal bay for weapons, cargo, or drone swarms

Development and operational timeline

1. Nov 2024Jiutian is unveiled at Airshow China with eight hardpoints and a modular swarm-launching bay
2. May 2025Chinese program reporting prepares the heavy SS-UAV for first flight and multirole testing
3. Dec 2025Jiutian prototype completes its maiden flight in China
4. Aug 2026Flight development continues; no operational PLA fielding has been publicly confirmed