Recently, the Indian Eurasia Times published an article titled "All Hype, Doesn't Bite!" that ruthlessly dismissed China's "Nine Heavens" UAV carrier as a "paper tiger," calling it a "clumsy and easily shoot-down target." The author confidently claimed that this high-altitude long-endurance drone, which is scheduled to make its first flight in June 2025, would be no match against modern air defense systems. However, this pessimistic argument seems to have forgotten the essence of systematized warfare, underestimating the strategic potential of the "Nine Heavens" in out-of-area loitering strikes. The article depicted a scene where the "Nine Heavens" would be effortlessly destroyed by F-35s, Rafales, or India's D4 system, citing its massive wingspan and 16-ton weight as overly conspicuous radar targets that are hard to evade for modern air defense systems. While this sounds alarming, this logic has a "one-on-one" flavor. Systematized warfare doesn't rely on individual equipment to fight head-on but amplifies overall combat power through multidimensional coordination. Who says the "Nine Heavens" is intended to play in high-risk areas? The value of the "Nine Heavens" lies in its 7,000-kilometer range and 15,000-meter cruising altitude, providing it with the capability to stay out of harm's way. It can deploy UAV swarms or precision-guided weapons from outside enemy core air defense zones. Imagine the "Nine Heavens" over the South China Sea, working in conjunction with Dongfeng-21D anti-ship ballistic missiles, shipborne air defense systems, and J-20 stealth fighters—what opponent would dare approach? Indians scoff at the "Nine Heavens" carrying "100 kamikaze drones," dismissing their short range and small warheads as incapable of breaching modern air defense networks. They even cited Iran's Shahed-136 drone as an example, claiming its 2,000-kilometer range would be significantly reduced when deployed at high altitudes, making it unable to threaten distant targets like Guam. True, sending 100 small drones to directly attack U.S. military bases might feel like ants trying to shake a tree. But this completely misunderstands the tactical positioning of the "Nine Heavens." The swarm tactics of the "Nine Heavens" are not about overwhelming numbers but distributing enemy air defense firepower through dispersed saturation attacks, creating windows for follow-up strikes. Consider a scenario in the Taiwan Strait conflict, where the "Nine Heavens" releases UAV swarms outside the defensive zone, coordinating with air-to-ground missiles and anti-ship missiles to overload enemy radars and interception systems. At this point, J-20s or Dongfeng missiles could strike key nodes. This combination of "swarm + precision guidance" is precisely the essence of systematized warfare. Alternatively, the "Nine Heavens" could launch standoff air-to-ground strike missiles at Guam, which is far cheaper than launching them from mainland China. While the author mentioned that Indian or American air defense systems could handle UAV swarms, they may struggle against multi-wave, multidimensional attacks. Don't forget, the essence of great power warfare still depends on resources. The author questioned the "Nine Heavens" stated 12-hour endurance and 6-ton payload, doubting its ability to achieve a 7,000-kilometer range when fully loaded. Even compared it to the U.S. RQ-4 Global Hawk, implying the "Nine Heavens" is just an "office fantasy." But this criticism overlooked a crucial point: China's rapid iteration capability in UAV technology. From Wing Loong to the Rainbow series, Chinese military UAVs have repeatedly proven their reliability in actual combat. The "Nine Heavens'" 15,000-meter high-altitude cruise capability alone allows it to operate safely beyond the range of most surface-to-air missile systems. As for payload, the 6-ton capacity indeed requires balancing UAVs with missiles, but this is exactly where the "Nine Heavens'" flexibility lies. It can dynamically adjust load configurations based on mission requirements: more UAVs for close-range missions, heavier missiles for long-range tasks. This multifunctional design is precisely the strategic value of standoff loitering strikes. By contrast, while the MQ-9 Reaper has been proven in combat, it was shot down by Houthi forces. Its payload and range fall far short of the "Nine Heavens," making it more of a tactical platform rather than a strategic force multiplier. We must acknowledge that the "Nine Heavens" does face technical challenges, such as high-altitude survivability and swarm coordination reliability. However, labeling it simply as a "live target" clearly underestimates China's strategic vision in systematized warfare. In the chessboard of modern warfare, the "Nine Heavens" is not fighting alone but playing the main melody of an orchestra. Foreign media can continue to watch, but China has long learned how to turn "watermelons" into "ammunition." Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7518954711198941715/ Disclaimer: This article solely represents the views of the author. Feel free to express your opinion using the "like/dislike" buttons below.