Even if it would be even half that rate - at 1 per two months - it would represent an already more than impressive expansion of the PLAAF's transport capabilities.
Will be indeed interesting to observe how many will follow at what rate ...
China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft
- Thread starter Totoro
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Even if it would be even half that rate - at 1 per two months - it would represent an already more than impressive expansion of the PLAAF's transport capabilities.
Will be indeed interesting to observe how many will follow at what rate ...
MwRYum
Major
The Y-20 would more likely to primarily satisfy the strategic transport needs, then branch out into other purpose - though I'd believe that the Il-76 airframe rotated out of the transport role would be converted to those platforms, thus streamlining the logistics.
But ultimately, AEW / maritime partrol / aerial tanker are better with using airliner airframe, given their typical operation is to fly at altitude in "race track loop" pattern, which would be a waste of airframe potential in the likes of Il-76 or Y-20, alas previously PLAAF has no better choice to do so - however, by the time Y-20 fleet become the fleet's mainstay, there should be enough Il-76 airframe for further conversion, and C-929 project should be progressed further enough to be given a try in military roles listed above.
USAF have about 52 C-5, 220 C-17 which are better as Y-20 and about 350 C-130 ...
Russian AF have also clearly more about 20 An-124, 100 Il-76, 50 An-12.
China have very few heavy cargos and tankers.
But China don' t need an also big Transport Fleet as USA which have an expeditionary Army for overseas operations with many bases in Allies countries.
For transport in fact even big cargos can't do the job* for a big qty of equipments and for it cargo ships are necessary durind Desert Storm, 90 % of equipment by ships, almost all by air and for it with Military Sealift Command USA have ! with in more prepositioned ships with yet also prepositionned equiments for Brigades.
*You can' t transport a full mechanized /armored heavy division by air.
Both An-12 and C-130 are tactical and not strategical transport planes, and thus not really comparable to the Y-20. China also has a fleet of tactical turboprop planes in the form of Y-8 and now the Y-9.
Right now, the 15th airborne's lift capacity is ONLY enough for one division. I see the first priority of Y-20 is to make the whole 15th capable.
AWAC can stay on IL-76 for a while, as the adaptation has been done, making more converting easier than trying on Y-20. Also the IL-76 fleet still has some years of service life. During this period, PLAF can test one Y-20 for the AWAC convertion. Same goes to tanker.
AWAC can stay on IL-76 for a while, as the adaptation has been done, making more converting easier than trying on Y-20. Also the IL-76 fleet still has some years of service life. During this period, PLAF can test one Y-20 for the AWAC convertion. Same goes to tanker.