The important question is how many Y-20 already in service? A dozen?
I don't think it's a figure that PLAAF would like to divulge. Understand it's a question of every party too, incl the external ones, curious how strong that strategic airlift force in operation
so, don't ask, it's a futile question that nobody here or else knows the factual figure. All are speculation, incl following Henri's figure.
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Y-20 celebrates two years in the Chinese Air Force (09 July)
Time passes and it has been two years since the Y-20 military transport plane joined the ranks of the Chinese Air Force. The first two aircraft, registered respectively 11051 and 11052, were delivered by
Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) to PLAAF's 4th Division on June 15, 2016, before being formally integrated into the same unit three weeks later on the 6th. July.
And since then, the Y-20 has continued its merry way. After making its first public appearance in November 2016, at the 2016 Zhuhai Air Show where a unit was sent on the spot and gave some flying demonstrations and a static ground exposure, the plane went regularly to the meeting of enthusiasts in China during the open days of the Chinese Air Force.
It was then in July 2017 that the Y-20 parade for the first time with the other Chinese air forces during the gigantic military parade to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Chinese People's Army. In the meantime, new aircraft have entered active service and some have begun to participate in the various exercises, including that for supplying Tibet on June 20, 2017 .
The pilots interviewed in the middle of last year have confirmed a rise in training in flight, while ground personnel of the air force begin to be able to perform part of the maintenance operations independently, without be assisted by the support teams of the manufacturer XAC.
But it was not until almost two years later, at the beginning of May this year, to see the Y-20 really in "operational mission". According to the Chinese Army's publication, at least two Y-20s, numbered 11053 and 11057 respectively, participated in an airborne exercise with the Chinese Air Force parachute forces that took place in central China, more than 1,000 km from the Qionglai base where the former are stationed.
The two military transport planes first carried out a first tour for parachute dropping, before parachuting the pallets of equipment.
At the developmental level, there is every reason to believe that at least three variants of Y-20 are currently under study. The first is a
civilian cargo version which is extended by 7 meters, capable of carrying up to 18 LD6 containers (407 × 153 × 163 cm) of 3,175 kg each or 10 LD9 containers (317.5 × 223.5 × 162.6 cm) of 6,000 kg, with a maximum range of 8,000 km.
Then comes the
tanker version - an amplifier of forces that the Chinese army has been in dire need for a few years now - as well as an
airborne space rocket carrier. If we already have some specific elements on the Y-20 civil cargo, it is unfortunately not yet the case for these last two variants although their existences are more or less confirmed.
Note that the latest satellite images dated April 29 and June 12 show that
Xi'an would be increasing the production rate of the Y-20. According to our analysis conducted in 2016, based on the delivery rate of the Russian D-30KP-2 engines that the Chinese aircraft has been fueling so far,
the manufacturer XAC would have enough to produce 40 units of Y-20 aircraft by 2020 at the rate of nine units per year.
Such a fleet could be able to project an entire mechanized division within a radius of 4,500 km from China in five days, with one tour per day and per aircraft, or in three days if they double the number of sorties per day.
To be continued.
Henri Kenhmann (East Pendulum)
http://www.eastpendulum.com/le-y-20-fete-ses-deux-ans-dans-larmee-de-lair-chinoise
