i wonder if, given the speed Y20 is being produced, that PLAAF has any plans to use it to deliver munition or UAV's. USAF uses C-17 to deliver MOAB and daisy cutters, and I am sure there are plans to deliver drones from transport aircrafts. Y20 should have the same potential.
China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft
- Thread starter Totoro
- Start date
lcloo
Captain
Transport plane launched MOAB and daisy cutters are good against less powerful enemy of limited air defence capability, their effectiveness against an opponent with long range SAM and superior air power is very limited.
WZ8 air launched UAV already has a designated mother ship derived from H6 bomber, so I don't think they will develop another mother ship using Y20.
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
From Henri K blog
The 4th transport division is participating in the exercise "Ouest Conjoint 2021" where the ZBD-03 armored vehicles were parachuted from the Y-20s. Each Y-20 seems to be able to carry 3 of these light tanks.
The 4th transport division is participating in the exercise "Ouest Conjoint 2021" where the ZBD-03 armored vehicles were parachuted from the Y-20s. Each Y-20 seems to be able to carry 3 of these light tanks.
Looking at the stats and pics, the limitation of 3 light tanks is due to size or load? Would high bypass engines increase the hauling weight limit?
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
No He is French man who at one time work in China as aeronautical engineer or management. He is fluent in Chinese. His source is mainly Chinese military forum and Chinese publication. But because he know his stuff he just didn't just parrot the Chinese forum He is very selective in his post!
As to your question I doubt is because of weight because ZBD weigh gross is 8 Ton and 6m long. Y20 capacity is 50-60 Ton. Cargo length roughly 35 m. they just don't load to max
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