CCTV News: In the modern combat system, the role of drones is becoming more and more prominent. Let’s focus on the latest progress of a “Nine-Day” drone independently developed by my country. It is understood that the 04 "Jiutian" drone has completed the assembly of the body structure and is undergoing system installation and testing. The first drone flight mission is expected to be completed by the end of June this year.

At the 15th China Air Show in 2024, the "Nine-Tians" Surveillance and Driving Drone, born in Xi'an, attracted much attention when it debuted. This drone has a wingspan of 25 meters, a maximum take-off weight of 16 tons and a maximum load capacity of 6 tons. The power system of the "Nine Days" drone uses a turbofan engine, with a maximum flight altitude of 15,000 meters and a maximum flight speed of 700 kilometers per hour. The "Nine Days" drone has excellent range, with a maximum range of 7,000 kilometers and a flight time of more than 12 hours. The mounting capacity of the "Nine Days" drone is also eye-catching. The eight external plug-in points can carry 1,000 kilogram guided bombs, as well as air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, anti-ship missiles and cruise missiles. Military experts said that more importantly, if equipped with a more advanced electronic warfare pod, it can suppress the opponent's radar, interfere with the opponent's radar, and improve its own survivability. If it can be equipped with a directional infrared interference system, it can greatly improve its survivability by interfering with the opponent's infrared guided missile through a laser beam. The mount capability of "Nine Heavens" can be equipped with diversified weapons, which can not only improve its penetration and strike capabilities, but also improve its own survivability.

The "Nine Days" drone adopts an open architecture and is equipped with a quickly replaceable mission cabin. By replacing different modular mission payloads, it can quickly switch task types within two hours, meeting the task needs of air transport and airdrops, information support and confrontation, fire strikes and support, and can be used in military and civilian fields such as system operations, transportation support, emergency rescue, etc.

Another highlight of the "Nine Heavens" drone is the integration of the mysterious "heterogeneous honeycomb mission cabin" in the belly of the aircraft. This mission cabin can accommodate hundreds of cruise missiles or small drones, so the "Nine-day" drone is also known as the "air drone aircraft carrier".

The "Nine Days" drone can also serve as a communication relay platform for this small drone, relying on the personnel behind to control and operate, and adopt the control method of humans in their arms, which is more conducive to the attack and reconnaissance missions of this tiny cruise bomb drone.