re: China’s 1st Aerial Mothership, Jiutian SS-UAV, is scheduled for its maiden flight in June

F-16 is 49 feet in length lol.

Pfft... That's nothing

Our kids are learning that being Gay is an ok thing, rap music is about real life, and the boys restroom has tampons in it.

I think this country is going to be ok....

Its slow and will have the radar signature of a flying apartment complex. Everything we have could gun it if they wanted to.

But Grok says it's unstoppable!

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But Grok says it's unstoppable!

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I don't think Grok says that but it is definitely faster at 435mph compared to 300mph for the MQ-9 Reaper


1. Speed: Jiutian SS-UAV at 435 mph
Reported Speed: The Jiutian SS-UAV is powered by a high-thrust turbofan engine, achieving a maximum speed of ~700 km/h, which translates to approximately 435 mph. This aligns with defense analyses from April 2025, confirming a top speed in this range.

Comparison to MQ-9 Reaper: The MQ-9 Reaper, powered by a Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop, has a maximum speed of ~300 mph (482 km/h) and cruises at ~195–230 mph (314–370 km/h). The Jiutian’s jet propulsion gives it a clear edge in speed, potentially allowing faster transit to operational areas or quicker evasion in contested environments.

Implications: At 435 mph, the Jiutian is better suited for rapid deployment over vast distances (e.g., South China Sea or Taiwan Strait) and may reduce exposure time in hostile airspace. However, its speed is still subsonic, and some sources note its large size (16 tons, 25m wingspan) and limited stealth features could make it trackable by advanced air defenses like Patriot or THAAD, despite the speed advantage.

2. Awesome Design Features
The Jiutian’s futuristic look is a big draw, and its design isn’t just for show—it’s built for performance:

Aesthetics:
Sleek Airframe: A high-wing monoplane with a broad 25-meter wingspan and a compact fuselage, giving it a bird-of-prey vibe. Its grey finish with white radio-transparent fairings (for radar and sensors) adds a modern, stealthy aesthetic.

Rear-Mounted Engine: The single turbofan engine, mounted above the rear fuselage, reduces thermal signature and contributes to its clean, streamlined look, unlike the MQ-9’s front-facing propeller. This placement enhances stealth and gives it a distinctive silhouette.

H-Shaped Tail: The twin vertical stabilizers, slightly canted inward, provide stability and a unique visual contrast to the MQ-9’s V-tail design.

Functional Design:
Modular Fuselage: The “heterogeneous honeycomb mission bay” (or Isomerism Hive Module) is a standout, allowing it to deploy smaller drones for swarm tactics. This central payload bay, possibly with large opening doors, adds both versatility and a sci-fi flair.

Eight Underwing Pylons: These allow for diverse payloads (sensors, munitions, or electronic warfare gear), making it look heavily armed and adaptable, compared to the MQ-9’s four hardpoints.

Sensor Suite: An undernose turret with electro-optical/infrared cameras and a nose-mounted radar (likely with an active phased array) give it a high-tech, predatory appearance, similar to but more advanced than the MQ-9’s MTS-B sensor ball.

3. Key Capabilities Tied to Design and Speed
Swarm Deployment: The honeycomb mission bay can launch 100+ smaller drones, enabling saturation attacks, distributed surveillance, or electronic warfare. This is a game-changer the MQ-9 lacks, making the Jiutian a “mothership” for networked warfare. Its speed (450 mph) allows it to reach optimal launch zones quickly.

High-Altitude Performance: With a ceiling of 15,000 meters (49,213 ft), comparable to the MQ-9’s 50,000 ft, the Jiutian’s jet engine and wide wingspan support sustained high-altitude flight, enhancing its range (7,000 km vs. MQ-9’s 1,850 km) and reducing detectability by ground-based radar.

Endurance: Some configurations extend endurance to 36 hours, surpassing the MQ-9’s 27–34 hours, allowing prolonged missions. The speed helps it cover its vast range efficiently.

Stealth Elements: While not a fully stealthy design (lacking saw-tooth edges or extreme radar-absorbing features), the rear engine and supermaterial-based radar cross-section reduction improve survivability compared to the MQ-9, which has minimal stealth.

Advanced Tech: Quantum-encrypted communications, AI-based swarm control, and hydrogen-fueled propulsion options make it cutting-edge, outpacing the MQ-9’s more conventional systems.

Jiutian’s Edge: Faster, longer-ranging, and with innovative swarm tactics, it’s designed for strategic, multi-domain operations in contested areas like the Taiwan Strait. Its futuristic look and tech (AI, quantum comms) make it a bold statement of China’s ambitions.

MQ-9’s Strengths: Proven in combat with millions of flight hours, reliable sensors (MTS-B, Lynx SAR), and interoperability with NATO allies. However, it’s slower, less stealthy, and lacks swarm capabilities, making it less suited for high-threat environments.

Dumb arse another drones isn't going to be it's downfall.

They have positioned it like a strategic bomber

This is just China trying to save face. The Air Force developed a rapid deployment system for cruise missiles that allows unmodified C-17s to deploy up to 45 Long Range cruise missiles from a thousand miles away. Not only that, but they called the project Rapid Dragon after a Chinese weapon from the 10th century.

Rapid Dragon

And most likely attempting a cheap knockoff of stolen US tech

This is a very underrated post and is exactly how I feel about this country right now. I was thinking about going off on a rant but you nailed it.