China officially inducts the Y-20, its new heavy transport aircraft

The People Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has officially inducted the first of what could be 1000 Xian Aircraft Corporation (XAC) Y-20 heavy-lift transport aircraft this week.

With a maximum take-off weight of 200 tons and capacity to carry up to 66 tons in cargo, the Y-20 will form the workhorse of China’s strategic and long-range lift fleet.

According to IHS Jane’s, XAC received a level of design assistance from Russian as well as Ukrainian engineers, which in turn has given the Y-20 a number of visual similarities to the troubled Antonov An-70.

Comment and Analysis

The XAC Y-20 has the characteristics of what could readily emerge as a capable and popular transport. For China, the Y-20 would be a major enabler for its ability to rapidly move military assets across its territory, and potentially beyond (for humanitarian and/or peacekeeping missions).

While the Y-20’s maximum payload capacity is shy of the C-17’s 77.5 tons, the depth of China’s domestic military and civil requirements (as well as the cost competitive nature of its industry) will help the Y-20 achieve a much more competitive price-point.

In June, AVIC’s head – Zhu Qian – indicated to China Daily that the conceptual work for an export variant of the Y-20 was already underway. If brought to fruition (likely), the Chinese would be in possession of an aptly capable IL-76 and A-400 competitor.

The Y-20 is currently powered by the Saturn DK-30KP, but indigenous turbofans – such as the WS-20 – are under development. It is also possible – if not likely – that the Y-20 will eventually be fitted to serve as an inflight refueling tanker (which could replace the PLAAF’s H-6Us).

Bilal Khan Founder

Founder of Quwa, Bilal has been researching Pakistani defence industry and security issues for over 15 years. His work has been cited by Pakistan's National Defence University (NDU), the Council of Foreign Relations, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, Centre of Airpower Studies and many others. He has a Hons. B.A in Political Science and Masters of Interntional Public Policy from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

See Full Bio

Pakistani Ministry of Defence Pakistani Ministry of Defence Production Pakistan Army Pakistan Navy Pakistan Air Force National Defence University