Rumoured Projects & Likelihood Thereof

[Blitzo]

As of present, there are the E-767 AEW&C aircraft and the KC-46 tanker aircraft, both of which are based on the Boeing 767 family airframe.

On the other hand, it'd be very interesting to see what the next generation of ELINT/SIGINT, EW/ECM/ESM, and MPA/ASW aircraft using airframes of a similar MTOW category as the 767 family (~140-160 tons) would be like (and how they would perform relative to their Western counterparts).

A 767 class aircraft for ELINT/SIGINT, EW/ECM/ESM, could make some sense especially for the PLA as the extra range means they can reach out into the pacific and loiter when flying from mainland PRC bases (which US 737 and 707 based airframes do not suffer from as much given they operate from bases closer to the PRC mainland).
I've toyed with the idea of a Y-20B based ELINT/SIGINT, EW/ECM/ESM aircraft for that specific reason (because a 737/C919 sized airframe would probably be a bit small) -- but a sino-767 airframe would of course be much more optimized for that role if it existed.

OTOH a 767 sized airframe for MPA/ASW does seem to be a bit overkill if it's operated in the traditional manner. It may well be that a 767 sized MPA might leverage MALE UAVs in the MPA/ASW mission to make up the numbers a little and provide closer in support (the MQ-9B class WL-X UAV of course is offered with meaningful ASW packages, as well as various other UAV projects that could be suitable for adaptation).


But really the most tantalizing prospect is if this is a 767 class aircraft, is its applications for tanking. The Y-20B MRTT (and YY-20A) are fine and good, but a twinjet widebody esque airframe is far more optimized for the tanker role than a transport airframe is. And the mass procurement of such an aircraft naturally means eventually the Y-20Bs won't have to take on the tanking mission (even though they're capable of it) as numbers of a "sino-767-tanker" grow, meaning they will likely focus on being strategic transports... and as evidence in recent times has shown, one can never have too many strategic transports, meaning whatever "excess" Y-20Bs they produce will still very much find a home/role in future even if a sino-767-tanker flourishes.

 

[Black Wolf]

As of present, there are the E-767 AEW&C aircraft and the KC-46/KC-767 tanker aircraft, both of which are based on the Boeing 767 family airframe.

On the other hand, it'd be very interesting to see what the next generation of ELINT/SIGINT, EW/ECM/ESM, and MPA/ASW aircraft using airframes of a similar MTOW category as the 767 family (~140-160 tons) would be like (and how they would perform, relative to their Western counterparts).

OTOH a 767 sized airframe for MPA/ASW does seem to be a bit overkill if it's operated in the traditional manner. It may well be that a 767 sized MPA might leverage MALE UAVs in the MPA/ASW mission to make up the numbers a little and provide closer in support (the MQ-9B class WL-X UAV of course is offered with meaningful ASW packages, as well as various other UAV projects that could be suitable for adaptation).

Pakistan selected the Embraer Lineage 1000 for its LRMPA project (Sea Sultan), which arguably offers a more balanced approach for this category in terms of range, operating costs & overall platform size.

IMO, an aircraft in this class — or something similar — could also be an ideal fit for future PLAN/PLAAF MPA requirements, especially if paired with MALE UAV support rather than relying solely on a much larger 767-sized airframe.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Another post by SOYO on Weibo, after his vague-posting about the common platform for special mission aircraft.

As I recall, the first flight (of an aircraft) is typically conducted without retracting the landing gear

No idea whether he/she is referring to the same aircraft that we've discussed recently, or some other aircraft, or just making a general statement, hence just putting it here for the record.

 

[MeiouHades]

SOYO vaguepost (essentially what was talked about in previous pages)

Huh, some sort of Sino P-8 or something?

 

[sunnymaxi]

Huh, some sort of Sino P-8 or something?

bigger than P-8.. likely to be in 120-140 tons category class general purpose aircraft with more powerful Engines.

 

[MeiouHades]

bigger than P-8.. likely to be in 120-140 tons category class general purpose aircraft with more powerful Engines.

So is this the aircraft that the long-rumored 25-ton engine is gonna be for? Or is this a new development entirely? Could take years just to get the engine out if it's new

 

[sunnymaxi]

So is this the aircraft that the long-rumored 25-ton engine is gonna be for? Or is this a new development entirely? Could take years just to get the engine out if it's new

so many questions but can't answer since we don't have enough information about this project. i think we should wait for more information.

 

[sunnymaxi]

Another post by SOYO on Weibo, after his vague-posting about the common platform for special mission aircraft.

View attachment 175209



No idea whether he/she is referring to the same aircraft that we've discussed recently, or some other aircraft, or just making a general statement, hence just putting it here for the record.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

So is this the aircraft that the long-rumored 25-ton engine is gonna be for? Or is this a new development entirely? Could take years just to get the engine out if it's new

We don't quite know, though there have been rumors/claims of a 25-ton engine in the works for quite some time, and it's likely neither a scaled-up CJ1000A nor a scaled-down CJ2000.

Of course, should this development be accurate, then having two aircraft models (i.e., Sino-C5 and this new platform aircraft) sharing the same engine (or engine family) would be massively beneficial in terms of cost and resource savings.

View attachment 175213

I'll just provide the translation:

New jet platform may be a low-wing aircraft with a tonnage between the 757 and 767.

Since there is no need to develop a civilian version, equipping it with two Chinese-made (or more like the Chinese counterpart to) CF6-80C2 engines would be sufficient—no need for a scaled-down CJ2000 (if that were available, even better, but it doesn't matter if not).

Perhaps it could also serve as a special transport aircraft (e.g., for government VIP transport) in the future.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Welp, apparently Adorable Whale is claiming that (in his own Weibo chat group) the rumors/claims on the development of the new common platform for special mission aircraft are merely nonsense:



Which SOYO replied: "We'll know everything in the next couple of years anyway."



On the other hand, @Oneninety replied to a follower in a comment section who was asking about this development: "It's only a matter of time (before this new common platform aircraft comes out."


So, eh. Make of that what you will.