China's "Jiutian" large drone takes first flight, aims for versatile roles

China

China's "Jiutian" large drone takes first flight, aims for versatile roles

2025-12-13 17:22 Last Updated At：21:07

A large unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), named "Jiutian", completed its maiden flight on Thursday, according to its developer, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

The domestically developed general-purpose drone, measuring 16.35 meters in length and 25 meters in wingspan, took to the skies in Pucheng, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

This aircraft boasts a maximum takeoff weight of 16 tonnes and a payload capacity of 6,000 kilograms. It can operate for up to 12 hours with a ferry range of 7,000 kilometers, according to the AVIC.

Debuting at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in 2024, the UAV features an isomerism hive module in its fuselage, where various loads can be installed to meet the demands of different missions, such as transportation, airdrop, information support, and military attacks.

Its modular payload system enables roles ranging from precise deliveries of heavy cargo to remote regions, to emergency communication and disaster relief, to geographic surveying and resource mapping.

Military expert Du Wenlong highlighted its impressive armament options.

"Once equipment is loaded onto the UAV, it can work like an arsenal plane or a composite aircraft. So, it can incorporate the functions of reconnaissance, interference and striking at the same time," he said.

The successful development of this aircraft has effectively addressed a critical gap in China's heavy UAV market. It opens a new avenue for the nation's aviation industry and carries significant strategic importance in enhancing China's voice within the global high-end equipment sector, according to industry experts.

Twenty U.S. states sue Trump's fee hike of H-1B visas

California and a coalition of 19 other states are suing the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump over its policy to hike fees on new H-1B visa petitions to 100,000 U.S. dollars, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Friday.

The Trump administration announced in September to impose the fee for H-1B visas, claiming that the non-immigrant visa program "has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labor."

Bonta said in a declaration that, as president, Trump has no authority to impose this fee. The declaration pointed out that significantly increasing this visa fee has brought various adverse effects on industries such as education and healthcare in the United States.

Trump announced in September the imposition of sharply higher visa fees, saying the move is intended to ensure that the U.S. brings in high-skilled talent that cannot be replaced by American workers. Previously, companies typically paid several thousand U.S. dollars in fees for H-1B visas.

U.S. media analyses say the new high visa fees will affect technology giants such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa in the United States that allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations. This visa is designed for highly qualified individuals, including those in fields such as technology, engineering, and healthcare.