China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft

[Deino]

For @huitong

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

(For example, I am unsure if Il-76 has the footprint to accommodate a standard S-300 TEL)

Likely no. While the width is sufficient, the Il-76's cargo compartment is about 3.4-3.45 meters high, whereas the S-300's TEL is about 3.8 meters high.

The significance of the HQ-9 TEL is probably the most notable -- as far as long distance strategic deployment goes, the ability deploy a relatively combat ready LR SAM TEL in a regular strategic transport without needing a super heavy transporter (like An-124 or C-5) is somewhat notable.

In the meantime, by taking the HQ-9 TEL's length at ~16 meters, then theoretically speaking, a Sino C-5-equivalent could ferry two of them at the same time.

On the other hand, I do wonder if the larger-sized HQ-29 TELs can be transported by the Y-20 as well? If not, then the larger, Sino C-5-equivalent airlifter would be needed to ferry them.

On this issue, I do wonder about the potential for the PLAAF to rapidly deploy HQ-29s cross-theater - For instance, to the southern (which should enable the interception of Indian IRBMs and ICBMs while they are still in the boost or early-midcourse phases) and the northeastern (for midcourse interceptions against ICBMs coming from the CONUS) frontiers using airlifter platforms.

 

[...........]

Likely no. While the width is sufficient, the Il-76's cargo compartment is about 3.4-3.45 meters high, whereas the S-300's TEL is about 3.8 meters high.



In the meantime, by taking the HQ-9 TEL's length at ~16 meters, then theoretically speaking, a Sino C-5-equivalent could ferry two of them at the same time.

On the other hand, I do wonder if the larger-sized HQ-29 TELs can be transported by the Y-20 as well? If not, then the larger, Sino C-5-equivalent airlifter would be needed to ferry them.

On this issue, I do wonder about the potential for the PLAAF to rapidly deploy HQ-29s cross-theater - For instance, to the southern (which should enable the interception of Indian IRBMs and ICBMs while they are still in the boost or early-midcourse phases) and the northeastern (for midcourse interceptions against ICBMs coming from the CONUS) frontiers using airlifter platforms.

What about the hq19 I think it's small enough to fit in the Y20

 

[sunnymaxi]

most likely there were two lines of Y-20B but footage showed only one line.

 

[Confusionism]

most likely there were two lines of Y-20B but footage showed only one line.

View attachment 177321

I don't understand why some people's first reaction isn't that this photo was taken of a formation of Y-20s as they taxied off the runway onto the taxiway. Did you count more than 10 of them in total?

 

[somePLAOSINT]

Well, the ones shown in that image I am not allowed to post are already included in that list; what i however did not list are about 20 additional Y-20B at XAC, that were not yet delivered in January since several of them are likely the more recently confirmed ones. The point is, there are surely a few not yet confirmed by serial number and as such the list could be likely (changes to above in bold):


12th AR / 4th TD: 25 Y-20A, 3 YY-20A, 17 Y-20B = 45
37th AR / 13th TD: 20 Y-20A, 20 Y-20B = 40
38th AR / 13th TD: 38-42 (maybe 45) YY-20A
--------------------------------------
55 Y-20A, about 40-45 YY-20A, 37 Y-20B (as of late May 2026) = 132-137 individual aircraft

But again, that's just my conservative guess!

Do you know where do they park them? The 3 major bases, Kaifeng, Qionglai and Paozhuwan could not accommodate so many Y-20s.

 

[Shaolian]

Just stumbled upon this on YouTube, which contains footages of some of the pictures of Y-20 from the last couple pages.

 

[...........]

At 2:06 them boys are jumping out the front door infront of the engine is that safe?

 

[Blitzo]

At 2:06 them boys are jumping out the front door infront of the engine is that safe?

It is a known practice that is done with aircraft of other nations as well

 

[Tomboy]

Today's CHH mentioned that Y-20's horizontal tail is apparently a one piece composite part made by SAC. If you were to check, you'd find that the area of the horizontal stabilizer is actually similar to the total wing area or a flanker. They also implied such experience with large composite part allowed the manufacturing of very large single piece composite parts for J-XDS possibly the entire top surface.