Y-20 heavy transport aircraft News & Discussions

[Deino]

27

So with this new delivery, at least China's Air Force have almost 30 unit of this chubby girl.

Actualyl that depends on how to read the construction numbers... so the one theory says indeed at least 26+ while others say there are only 13+ in service.

 

[LKJ86]

Via @空军在线 from Weibo

 

[LKJ86]

Via 中国军视网

 

[JSCh]

航空工业
今天 12:47 来自 专业版微博
【航空工业西飞转场交付复工后首架运20

】2月21日，运20飞机整装待发，伴随发动机的轰鸣，如鲲鹏展翅，凌空而起。航空工业西飞按计划转场交付复工后首架运20飞机，为圆满完成全年试飞交付任务奠定了基础。

针对本次转场任务，西飞科学防治、精准施策，制定专项工作方案，对任务全过程各环节进行细致梳理，从人员测温到环境消杀，从飞机准备到起飞转场，每个细节进行模拟验证，在用户的全力支持和协同下，确保了飞机转场任务的圆满完成。

AVIC - Aviation Industry Corporation of China
Today at 12:47 from the professional version of Weibo

[XAC delivery of first Y-20 after the resumption of work. [Wuwu]] On February 21, Y-20 aircraft was ready to go, accompanied by the roar of the engine, such as Kun Peng spreading its wings and rising in the air. XAC of the aviation industry delivered the first 20 aircraft after resuming work as planned, laying the foundation for the successful completion of the annual test flight delivery mission.

In response to this transfer mission, XAC scientifically controlled and accurately implemented policies, formulated a special work plan, carefully combed all links in the entire process of the mission, from personnel temperature measurement to environmental disinfection, from aircraft preparation to take-off and transfer, every detail the simulation verification was performed to ensure the successful completion of the aircraft transfer task with the full support and cooperation of users.

​

 

[lcloo]

This #04 is numbered 20044, so we have another new Y20 backed up by photo.

 

[Deino]

This #04 is numbered 20044, so we have another new Y20 backed up by photo.

Yes, but a few weeks ago a similar aircraft also numbered '04' and allegedly aimed as '55014' for the CTC's transport + SAR brigade.

So maybe both are the same?

 

[lcloo]

Yes, but a few weeks ago a similar aircraft also numbered '04' and allegedly aimed as '55014' for the CTC's transport + SAR brigade.

So maybe both are the same?



View attachment 609082

20044 is according to Huitong's posting today on his China Military Aviation site. My guess is the new aircraft that was delivered on Feb 21st this year.

 

[JSCh]

Y-20 aircraft tanker's variant to debut soon, AEW variant to follow: Air Force officer
By Liu Xuanzun Source:Global Times Published: 2020/2/25 17:29:50

Photo taken in June, 2016 shows two Y-20 planes, China's homegrown large transport aircraft, taxiing to airport runway. Two Y-20 planes officially joined the People's Liberation Army Air Force on July 6, 2016. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

China's long-expected aerial tanker variant of the domestically developed Y-20 large transport aircraft will make its debut to the general public soon, and an aerial early warning (AEW) variant is also under development, making the Y-20 and its variants the pillars of the Chinese Air Force's strategic capabilities.

"The Y-20 cargo plane has variants like the Y-20 aerial tanker and Y-20 AEW aircraft. I believe that people will see our Y-20 aerial tanker debut on the battlefield in the not too distant future," Teng Hui, commander of an Air Force aviation regiment of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theater Command and a Y-20 pilot, said on China Central Television on Monday.

The Y-20's chief designer Tang Changhong said several times that there would be variants, and a prototype tanker variant of the Y-20 was spotted on commercial satellite photos by foreign media in 2018. It is widely expected that the tanker variant will work together with and eventually replace the very few imported Il-78 tankers and the domestically developed but less capable HU-6.

When repurposed for aerial refueling, the Y-20 will be able to carry about 90 tons of fuel, similar to the Il-78, and much more than the HU-6's capacity of under 30 tons, reported Ordnance Industry Science Technology, a Xi'an-based periodical on the national defense industry, in 2019.

It will greatly expand the PLA Air Force's operational range, allowing fighter jets and bombers to travel much greater distances, transforming the Air Force from a regional force into a strategic one, analysts said.

Compared to the tanker variant, less information is publicly available on the AEW variant.

China already operates the smaller, domestically developed KJ-200 and KJ-500 AEW aircraft, and the larger KJ-2000 AEW system, which is developed based on the frame of the Russian Il-76 transport aircraft.

The Y-20 is of similar size to the KJ-2000, but can use more advanced technologies to enhance its capabilities. For example, it may use a conformal radar array design to replace the traditional radome, which can increase the size of radars for better detection capabilities of hostile stealth aircraft, analysts said.

The Y-20 is an excellent basic platform for developing variants because of its large size and long endurance, a military expert who asked not to be named told the Global Times on Tuesday, noting that more variants, including electronic warfare aircraft, are possible.

By itself, it is a strategic cargo plane, and all of its variants can be of strategic value, the expert said.

 

[Beast]

Y-20 aircraft tanker's variant to debut soon, AEW variant to follow: Air Force officer
By Liu Xuanzun Source:Global Times Published: 2020/2/25 17:29:50

Photo taken in June, 2016 shows two Y-20 planes, China's homegrown large transport aircraft, taxiing to airport runway. Two Y-20 planes officially joined the People's Liberation Army Air Force on July 6, 2016. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

China's long-expected aerial tanker variant of the domestically developed Y-20 large transport aircraft will make its debut to the general public soon, and an aerial early warning (AEW) variant is also under development, making the Y-20 and its variants the pillars of the Chinese Air Force's strategic capabilities.

"The Y-20 cargo plane has variants like the Y-20 aerial tanker and Y-20 AEW aircraft. I believe that people will see our Y-20 aerial tanker debut on the battlefield in the not too distant future," Teng Hui, commander of an Air Force aviation regiment of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theater Command and a Y-20 pilot, said on China Central Television on Monday.

The Y-20's chief designer Tang Changhong said several times that there would be variants, and a prototype tanker variant of the Y-20 was spotted on commercial satellite photos by foreign media in 2018. It is widely expected that the tanker variant will work together with and eventually replace the very few imported Il-78 tankers and the domestically developed but less capable HU-6.

When repurposed for aerial refueling, the Y-20 will be able to carry about 90 tons of fuel, similar to the Il-78, and much more than the HU-6's capacity of under 30 tons, reported Ordnance Industry Science Technology, a Xi'an-based periodical on the national defense industry, in 2019.

It will greatly expand the PLA Air Force's operational range, allowing fighter jets and bombers to travel much greater distances, transforming the Air Force from a regional force into a strategic one, analysts said.

Compared to the tanker variant, less information is publicly available on the AEW variant.

China already operates the smaller, domestically developed KJ-200 and KJ-500 AEW aircraft, and the larger KJ-2000 AEW system, which is developed based on the frame of the Russian Il-76 transport aircraft.

The Y-20 is of similar size to the KJ-2000, but can use more advanced technologies to enhance its capabilities. For example, it may use a conformal radar array design to replace the traditional radome, which can increase the size of radars for better detection capabilities of hostile stealth aircraft, analysts said.

The Y-20 is an excellent basic platform for developing variants because of its large size and long endurance, a military expert who asked not to be named told the Global Times on Tuesday, noting that more variants, including electronic warfare aircraft, are possible.

By itself, it is a strategic cargo plane, and all of its variants can be of strategic value, the expert said.

China shall have gone for the Y-9 tanker variant development in the early days than wait for Y-20 tanker variant. Y-20 do have a faster speed and bigger fuel capacity but have China ever consider the strategic alliance need with a Y-9 tanker just like the a USAF KC 130J?

If allies like Pakistan need an aerial refuel plane without going to Russian or Western sources. Who can it get it from? Y-20 as a tanker for Pakistan seems over killed and maybe too expensive to buy or maintain. I am wondering how it's JF-17 received it's aerial refueling from which plane?

Same as Myanmar which bought JF-17 but not having a refuel tanker which China can sell... China shall have make a Y-9 tanker which can offer as export for allies.

 

[Haris Ali2140]

China shall have gone for the Y-9 tanker variant development in the early days than wait for Y-20 tanker variant. Y-20 do have a faster speed and bigger fuel capacity but have China ever consider the strategic alliance need with a Y-9 tanker just like the a USAF KC 130J?

If allies like Pakistan need an aerial refuel plane without going to Russian or Western sources. Who can it get it from? Y-20 as a tanker for Pakistan seems over killed and maybe too expensive to buy or maintain. I am wondering how it's JF-17 received it's aerial refueling from which plane?

Same as Myanmar which bought JF-17 but not having a refuel tanker which China can sell... China shall have make a Y-9 tanker which can offer as export for allies.

JF-17s are refuelled by IL-76s.

 

[Beast]

JF-17s are refuelled by IL-76s.

Soon these IL-78 Midas airframe will get old until a stage where it cannot be life extend. A new and more modern aerial refueller is needed. If China need to expand it's military strategic need. It needs more product that can fulfill it's allies need.

 

[Haris Ali2140]

Soon these IL-78 Midas airframe will get old until a stage where it cannot be life extend. A new and more modern aerial refueller is needed. If China need to expand it's military strategic need. It needs more product that can fulfill it's allies need.

Yes our IL-76s need replacement. According to people here IL-76s might need refuelling itself while on a refuelling mission.

 

[Beast]

Yes our IL-76s need replacement. According to people here IL-76s might need refuelling itself while on a refuelling mission.

Pakistan maybe can afford 2-3 Y-20 tanker but I am not sure about other smaller countries if they bought JF-17 but left no money to buy aerial tanker from China.

 

[bahadur999]

China shall have gone for the Y-9 tanker variant development in the early days than wait for Y-20 tanker variant. Y-20 do have a faster speed and bigger fuel capacity but have China ever consider the strategic alliance need with a Y-9 tanker just like the a USAF KC 130J?

If allies like Pakistan need an aerial refuel plane without going to Russian or Western sources. Who can it get it from? Y-20 as a tanker for Pakistan seems over killed and maybe too expensive to buy or maintain. I am wondering how it's JF-17 received it's aerial refueling from which plane?

Same as Myanmar which bought JF-17 but not having a refuel tanker which China can sell... China shall have make a Y-9 tanker which can offer as export for allies.

The Chinese netizens seems to nickname the new AEW variant as 'Y-20G' whereas the tanker as 'Y-20U'.

 

[Zharang9]

KJ-3000 AEW&C based on Y-20 to detect stealth fighters

Important information was recently revealed by the head of the “Y-20 First Regiment” in an interview with CCTV, which made many Chinese military fans overjoyed, in which he talked about “Y-20 refueling aircraft” and “Y-20 early warning aircraft“.

After Y-20 tanker that has been put into test flight, the long-known project of Y-20 platform airborne early warning aircraft is finally been confirmed this time.

According to public papers published by Chinese leaders in the field of domestic early warning aircraft such as Lu Jun – chief engineer of the KJ-2000 project – in recent years, among the four capabilities of the next-generation early warning aircraft: high detection capability, high anti-interference capability, high identification capability, and high battlefield management capability, high detection capability of the fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft is required to be over 360 kilometers.

Although early warning aircraft experts also believe that in the future, the early warning aircraft platform will continue to develop on platforms of all sizes, and small and medium-sized aircraft platforms will be focused, while unmanned early warning system will also become a major direction, advantages of a large-size early warning aircraft platform have never been neglected.

KJ-3000 conceptual diagram

In fact, even before the Y-20 transport aircraft entered service, there had been rumors about the next-generation large-scale early warning aircraft program called KJ-3000, which would use Y-20 as a platform.

According to Zhen Chadian, a military analyst, the contemporary development of conformal antenna technology can better take advantage of the conformal antenna, which no longer needs to be compensated by significantly adjusting the aerodynamic shape of the carrier as in the past. There will be fewer restrictions on size, which helps to make full use of the body space to arrange larger radar antennas.

This is an appealing idea for the next-generation early warning aircraft which are supposed to be anti-stealth, like KJ-3000 AEW&C aircraft, as Chinese academician Wang Xiaomo, “the father of China’s early warning aircraft,” said, “The next-generation early warning aircraft should be given a higher goal, that is, to be ahead in all ways, and the Chinese will lead the new trend of early warning aircraft.”

https://www.china-arms.com/2020/02/kj3000-aewc-aircraft/