A new chapter in modern warfare may be opening with China’s drone carrier, a platform that could become the central actor in large-scale robotic combat. In Beijing, it was officially announced that the AVIC Jiutian, a massive unmanned aircraft developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), has successfully completed its first flight.
The rapid proliferation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has transformed modern warfare, with drones becoming a dominant force in reconnaissance, surveillance, and direct strikes.
The development of combat drones represents one of the most significant technological and strategic shifts in modern military doctrine. Over the past decade, Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) have evolved from auxiliary intelligence-gathering tools into central components of offensive and defensive operations. In the United States, this transformation is driven by a combination of geopolitical imperatives, advancements in artificial intelligence, and increasing demands for operational efficiency and force protection.




