MRTTs are combined transport-tankers, i.e. Multi-Role Tanker Transports.
China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft - esp. Y-20/YY-20
- Thread starter Totoro
- Start date
@mods perhaps it's time for a 9/3 parade thread?
Recently heard the annual production rate for the Y-20 (presumably of all varieties) has reached ~50 airframes per year at XAC. Not sure if this figure is totally accurate, but inclined to defer to it given the satellite imagery that's been floating around.
With that said, it's a bit surprising that there hasn't been more chatter about prospective Y-20BE export orders.
With the C-17 out of production for a decade, and ongoing sanctions regimes impacting Il-76 sales, one would expect the Y-20BE to attract more interest, especially as a less politically sensitive product than the J-10CE or J-35AE.
With that said, it's a bit surprising that there hasn't been more chatter about prospective Y-20BE export orders.
With the C-17 out of production for a decade, and ongoing sanctions regimes impacting Il-76 sales, one would expect the Y-20BE to attract more interest, especially as a less politically sensitive product than the J-10CE or J-35AE.
lcloo
Major
Also to be considered is the unit cost of Y20BE. We don't know what is the exact unit price, but referring to C-17's unit cost of around USD 340 million each, even if assuming Y20 cost is about half of C-17, it still is an expensive item of US$170 million per unit.
Not saying that no foreign countries would buy Y20 export variant, but they have to consider the needs of a startegic air lifter and prepare their budgets for such acquisition. So the talks of buying Y20 export variant by foreign customers might not happen so soon.
Countries that operate IL-76 with expiring airframe times would be potential customers, they may consider whether to buy Chinese or Russian transporter. If Russian have problem with delivery then Y20 export variant will be a better choice for the potential buyer. (PLAAF did had delivery problem with IL-76 purchases decades ago, but that is old story).
Not saying that no foreign countries would buy Y20 export variant, but they have to consider the needs of a startegic air lifter and prepare their budgets for such acquisition. So the talks of buying Y20 export variant by foreign customers might not happen so soon.
Countries that operate IL-76 with expiring airframe times would be potential customers, they may consider whether to buy Chinese or Russian transporter. If Russian have problem with delivery then Y20 export variant will be a better choice for the potential buyer. (PLAAF did had delivery problem with IL-76 purchases decades ago, but that is old story).
Source of this claim?
Because this is great news for the PLAAF's transport, tanker and AEW&C fleets. 50 per year means 500 in a decade for a sustained production run volume.
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