manqiangrexue
Brigadier
Well, it can only be about as completed as the J-20, since it's final intended engines WS-20 haven't been put on it yet.
China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft
- Thread starter Totoro
- Start date
by78
General
Blackstone
Brigadier
She's a fine looking bird, I'll give them that.
Y-20s will likely remain under-powered until WS-20s are ready.Here's the bigger version for your collection...
(1599 x 925)
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Whole point of Y-20 will be pointless unless it has domestic engine
Until it can't utilise it's full take off weight the purpose will not be full filled
Y-20 main purpose would be to lift a MBT in full combat gear that would require a lift of 55+ tons
Long range strategic lift is a vital part of the overall militray strategy of China and they would need hundreds of the transports to full fill that requirment
China is a good land power like the Soviet Union, but hauling heavy armoured equipment by air is a elite club few are part of US army is one of them
Then you have the training, logistics and co-ordination to actaully do the lift
That will take years and years of excercises and training before China can successfully lift a entire armoured brigade across a long distance let alone a war zone
Until it can't utilise it's full take off weight the purpose will not be full filled
Y-20 main purpose would be to lift a MBT in full combat gear that would require a lift of 55+ tons
Long range strategic lift is a vital part of the overall militray strategy of China and they would need hundreds of the transports to full fill that requirment
China is a good land power like the Soviet Union, but hauling heavy armoured equipment by air is a elite club few are part of US army is one of them
Then you have the training, logistics and co-ordination to actaully do the lift
That will take years and years of excercises and training before China can successfully lift a entire armoured brigade across a long distance let alone a war zone
Armies need lots of things. How important the hauling of MBT's depends on the situation and often it will not be required. But you want to be able to do it so it will have been a design requirement but not the main purpose.
In the short to medium run the Y-20 will be using the WS-18 (D-30K) engines. It means that it won't lift the 66 tons of its design but over 40 tons. That is the reality of China's aerospace industry today. That its full of interim solutions when it comes to the engines. It may not be able to lift the latest Type 99 MBT's but it can still lift a Type 96 MBT that is just about 43 tons. And the Type 96 MBT is still the backbone of the PLAGF.
Even if they are only able to have D-30 powered Y-20s for the next few years that would still be an immense increase in absolute capability of overall airlift for the Air Force.
It would essentially be a modern, larger internal volume airlifter with Il-76 class payload, and most importantly it can be produced domestically without fear of production getting halted by disagreements in price or a factory shutting down, so it gives the Air Force a reliable source of consistent airlifter production, and whether its max payload is 66 tons or ten or so tons lower doesn't really matter.
Engineer
Major
The main purpose is to have a platform for conversion into tankers and AWACS. The likely conflict that China gets involved in will be one that requires fighting for control over airspace and sea, not one that requires transporting of tanks.
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manqiangrexue
Brigadier
Though I think C919 with WS-20 will be better for both tanker and AWAC. The Y-20 air frame specializes in heavy lift over efficiency, the latter of which is preferable for both aforementioned roles.