China flies world’s first 16-ton drone mothership that launches swarms

China has successfully conducted the maiden flight of its Jetank unmanned aircraft, a heavy-lift drone described as an "airborne UAV carrier" capable of deploying swarms of smaller drones. Developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the Jetank took off in Shaanxi Province and represents a significant advancement in China's development of large, multi-role UAVs. Measuring 16.35 meters in length with a wingspan of 25 meters and a maximum takeoff weight of 16 tons, the drone can carry payloads up to 6,000 kilograms, fly for 12 hours, and has a ferry range of approximately 7,000 kilometers. Its modular mission-payload design enables rapid reconfiguration for diverse civilian and government applications, including cargo delivery, disaster relief, aerial surveys, and maritime law enforcement. The Jetank’s military potential was highlighted during its public debut at Airshow China 2024, where it was shown to have eight underwing hardpoints capable