Y-20 Aerial Refueling Aircraft - China has modified its domestic Y-20 strategic transport aircraft to perform new roles such as aerial refueling, a military insider said.

A tank variant for the Y-20 is currently under development, an expert familiar with the matter told the Global Times on Sunday on condition of anonymity.

Y-20 Aerial Refueling Aircraft

Y-20 Aerial Refueling Aircraft

Last week, a series of reports emerged claiming that a prototype aerial refueling version of the Y-20 had been found in a commercial satellite photograph at Yanliang Airport in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province. in northwest China.

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China urgently needs an aerial refueling tanker that has a larger fuel capacity than the HU-6, a tanker developed from the H-6 bomber, to make its strategic air force, the expert said, noting that air refueling allows the fighter to fly a lot. farther without landing and reaching more distant targets.

China Central Television (CCTV) reported earlier this month that the J-20, China's most advanced stealth fighter jet, is capable of aerial refueling.

Although China also operates several Russian II-78 tanks, which are much larger than the HU-6, Russia has been reluctant to sell more at a reasonable price, which has led China to decide to develop its own large tank, the expert said.

China's Y-20, a large domestic 200-ton class multirole transport aircraft, is similar in size to the Russian Il-76 transport aircraft on which the Il-78 is based, he said.

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The aircraft entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force in 2016, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The fact that the Y-20 is built domestically means that Chinese developers can make modifications relatively easily, making it a platform to develop multiple variants, the expert said.

China has modified the Y-9 transport aircraft into an early warning, patrol and anti-submarine aircraft, according to a CCTV report on Saturday.

Y-20 Aerial Refueling Aircraft

The expert noted that it is also possible that China could produce more variants of the Y-20, noting that an early warning aircraft might be the most viable given the size and durability of the Y-20.

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Y-20 Heavy Transport Aircraft Conducts First Air Delivery Formation Five Y-20 Transporters Delivered to People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force in West China PLAAF has received the first Y-20 Air Transporter China Needs 'More Than 1,000' Xian Y- 20 Transport Aircraft Xian Y-20 Heavy Military Transport Aircraft: Details Liu Xuanzan, Global Times defense reporter covering weapons and military development. Liu Xuanzun and Fan Wei Published: November 29, 2021, 12:51 p.m

A large Y-20 transport aircraft attached to an aviation division under the PLA Western Theater Command flies at a predetermined altitude during a flight training mission on January 4, 2021. Photo: eng.chianmil.com. no

A refueling variant of the Y-20 transport aircraft made its debut near the island of Taiwan in a massive exercise by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Sunday, the same day as a Lithuanian parliamentary delegation arrived on the island and soon after, a delegation from the US Congress visited Taipei on Friday.

The new aircraft, which will operate near the Taiwan Strait and many other places in the future, is expected to enhance the performance of PLA fighter jets by giving them longer range and endurance, experts said on Sunday.

Xian Y 20

A total of 27 PLA aircraft, including two KJ-500 early warning aircraft, one Y-9 electronic warfare aircraft, five H-6 bombers, one Y-20 aerial refueling aircraft, six J-10 fighters, four aircraft fighter J-11. and eight J-16 fighter jets entered the island's self-proclaimed southwest air defense identification zone on Sunday, the island's defense authorities said in a press release.

Among them, two KJ-500 early warning aircraft, one Y-9 electronic warfare aircraft, five H-6 bombers and one Y-20 aerial refueling aircraft, accompanied by four J-10 fighters and two J-16 fighters . , flew to the southeast side of the island of Taiwan, according to a press release.

This is the first time that a Y-20 aircraft has been spotted in a PLA flyover near the island of Taiwan, the media on the island reported, noting that the Y-20 refueling aircraft appeared to have carried out tests aerial refueling with two J-16.

Y-20 Aerial Refueling Aircraft

The PLA has not yet announced the commissioning of this type of aircraft, but Tang Changhong, chief designer of the original Y-20 large transport aircraft, said at the China 2021 Airshow that the Y-20 may be suitable for special missions, such as air tanker.

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Fu Qianshao, an expert on China's land-based military aviation, told the Global Times on Sunday that the Y-20 aerial tanker variant is said to have recently conducted aerial refueling tests over the sea.

"The Y-20 is not only an excellent strategic transport aircraft, but it can also create many variants," Fu said.

The air tank is one of the most important power amplifiers in modern warfare, another military expert told the Global Times on Sunday, requesting anonymity.

Such aircraft can give other aircraft a much longer range and durability, experts said, noting that air refueling is also faster and more efficient because the planes do not need to return to base, land and take off again.

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The PLA previously had Il-78 and HU-6 air tankers in its arsenal. But the Il-78 is imported and limited in number, while the HU-6 carries less fuel, observers said.

Training in locations east of Taiwan Island is important because PLA fighters, especially those with a shorter endurance than the J-10, can now stay in the sky for extended periods of time around the island and reject any foreign interference if the situation arises. born, said the expert.

In addition to the Taiwan Strait, the Y-20 aerial refueling aircraft is expected to support the strategic development of the PLA air force in many places where the defense of national interests is necessary, such as the China Sea Southern, said the analyst.

Y-20 Aerial Refueling Aircraft

The massive air exercise in the PLA on Sunday came on the same day that a Lithuanian parliamentary delegation arrived on the island, and soon after a delegation from the US Congress visited the island on Friday.

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Such exercises are routine and send a clear warning to Taiwanese separatists and foreign interference forces that the PLA has the determination and ability to gain air superiority and sea control in all directions on the island of Taiwan, experts said.

The PLA Air Force is now a strategic force and Taiwan's separatists can no longer resist, even on the eastern side of the island's central mountains, the expert said, noting that "the secessionists no longer have anywhere to hide." . 1. Photo showing tank Y-20 tank J-20, nozzle surface J-16; PLAAF can now reach 'anywhere'

A photo released by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) on Wednesday shows a J-20 "Mighty Dragon" stealth fighter and a J-16 fighter-bomber mid-air refueling an original YU-20 refueling aircraft.

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China can now keep its fighters in the air longer and reach more distant US bases in the western Pacific. This is the first time the J-20 has been shown performing air-to-air refueling, another first for the aircraft unveiled to the public.

The YU-20 is an air-to-air tanker, a variant of China's original Y-20 strategic air transport aircraft, also called a sign of its domestic air capability.

The photo was revealed at a PLAAF press conference in Changchun City, northeast China's Jilin Province, which will host an air show from August 26 to 30. According to PLAAF spokesman Shen Jinke, the YU-20 will also make its public debut later. .

Y-20 Aerial Refueling Aircraft

China has had three types of air-to-air refueling aircraft since the 1990s, none of which provide the much-needed refueling and fuel-carrying capabilities of the YU-20.

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The first was the HU-6, the Chinese version of the Xi'an H-6 bomber, itself a locally produced version of the Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-16. The second is a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 tanker and the third is a People's Liberation Army (PLAN) Shenyang J-15 transporter that serves as a "friendly" jet.

The J-15 is a version of the Russian Su-33 carrier-based fighter jet, which was reported to have undergone night refueling training in July 2020. While the HU-6 was limited by its lower fuel capacity, relying on friend refueling of the J-15 is inherently impractical as it represents an important lateral role combat platform.

"It has also been shown that the YU-20 can refuel two aircraft of different types at the same time, proving that the air tanker is flexible, which is of great tactical importance," the Global Times quoted Chinese military expert Wang Minghzi as saying. . . Aerial refueling usually increases the combat radius of the aircraft by 30-35%.

Interestingly, this is even more light on the J-20 retractable refueling probe to the right of the cockpit, which is covered under a hatch to reduce the radar cross section (RCS). The J-11, J-16 and J-15 also have retractable refueling probes, with only the J-10 series having a fixed probe.

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The J-20 itself advanced rapidly, with its most recent success being a two-seater variant, making it the first stealth fighter Gen. 5 in the world that has such equipment. \

The EurAsian Times reported that the second crew member would help control the wingmen in addition to assisting in more complex missions.

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