China’s new ‘drone mothership’ draws online ridicule: ‘Big, Slow, and not Stealthy’

Beijing is boasting astir having an aerial mothership tin of deploying much than 100 drones and missiles — but nan rendering it released of nan trade has drawn ridicule complete what an easy target it will be.

China unveiled images of nan Jiu Tian SS-UAV connected Sunday, pinch nan monolithic level revealed to beryllium a “drone mothership” pinch nan wingspan of 82 feet that’s tin of transporting 100 UAVs aliases astir 2,200 pounds of missiles astatine a cruising altitude of astir 9 miles successful nan sky.

While nan level would beryllium tin of flying supra galore of nan medium-range defense systems deployed astir nan globe, online critics were speedy to constituent retired that it stands virtually nary chance against more precocious defense systems seen successful nan US, Europe and different parts of Asia.

“I’m not a combatant pilot, but this is for illustration trying to sneak into near-peer force airspace w/ a statement of KC-10s,” a retired US Air Force aviator wrote connected X upon seeing nan exemplary for nan Jiu Tian.

“It’s not remotely survivable…a gigantic rocket magnet. This is conscionable classical propaganda,” nan personification added.

Another X personification chimed in, “The Jiutian SS-UAV is simply a elephantine prop portion for propaganda, thing more.

“In immoderate contested airspace[,] particularly 1 guarded by an Integrated Air Defense System (IADS), this point wouldn’t make it past nan outer ring.”

A 3rd personification wrote, “OK sewage it Big, Slow, and not Stealthy.”

Many online commentators besides mocked nan messages coming retired of Chinese news outlets regarding nan level arsenic a “peace-oriented” shape of subject equipment, fixed Beijing’s vow to invade Taiwan successful 2026.

“I’m judge Taiwan feels safe knowing China doesn’t scheme to usage its subject [to] onslaught different nations,” an X personification wrote.

Another personification posted, “The self-governing free group of antiauthoritarian Taiwan will beryllium happy to perceive that!”

The Jiu Tian — aliases “High Sky” — was antecedently teased arsenic a super-high altitude, unmanned aerial mothership during China’s Zhuhai aerial show successful November.

The level is expected to return disconnected for its first ngo astatine nan extremity of June, according to Chinese media.