Y-20 heavy transport aircraft News & Discussions

[LKJ86]

Via 解放军报

 

[LKJ86]

View attachment 742262View attachment 742263View attachment 742264View attachment 742265
Via 解放军报

 

[Deino]

Allegedly the first Y-20U has been delivered to an operational unit. And even if my best guess as the PLAAF's first unit to gain this type would be the 13th Transport Division's 38th Air Regiment at Wuhan-Paozhuwan, which operates Il-76MD/TD
and the three Il-78 tanker, another option could be this one with the so far highest number "27" (?) or serial number 11257 assigned to the 4th Transport Division, 12th Air Regiment at Chengdu-Qionglai. The jump from the previously highest number seen "11155" to "11257" could be a hint for a new squadron.

(Image via @Oneninety from Weibo)

 

[vi-va]

Allegedly the first Y-20U has been delivered to an operational unit. And even if my best guess as the PLAAF's first unit to gain this type would be the 13th Transport Division's 38th Air Regiment at Wuhan-Paozhuwan, which operates Il-76MD/TD
and the three Il-78 tanker, another option could be this one with the so far highest number "27" (?) or serial number 11257 assigned to the 4th Transport Division, 12th Air Regiment at Chengdu-Qionglai. The jump from the previously highest number seen "11155" to "11257" could be a hint for a new squadron.

(Image via @Oneninety from Weibo)

View attachment 743851

Gosh, we need many of those. It will extend PLAAF arms and legs, make it real strategic force.

 

[LKJ86]

Via @中部战区 from Weibo

 

[Beast]

View attachment 744191
Via @中部战区 from Weibo

Where are they going?

 

[LKJ86]

Via www.81.cn

 

[LKJ86]

Via @西部空天 from Weibo

 

[LKJ86]

 

[LKJ86]

Via www.81.cn

 

[Scorpiooo]

Allegedly the first Y-20U has been delivered to an operational unit. And even if my best guess as the PLAAF's first unit to gain this type would be the 13th Transport Division's 38th Air Regiment at Wuhan-Paozhuwan, which operates Il-76MD/TD
and the three Il-78 tanker, another option could be this one with the so far highest number "27" (?) or serial number 11257 assigned to the 4th Transport Division, 12th Air Regiment at Chengdu-Qionglai. The jump from the previously highest number seen "11155" to "11257" could be a hint for a new squadron.

(Image via @Oneninety from Weibo)

View attachment 743851

@Deino these Y20s will replace IL76/78 in PLAAF , then those IL76 will transformed to other brigades or will be retired

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Anyone's know what the update on Y20 based tankers, when can we see there production and induction

 

[Deino]

@Deino these Y20s will replace IL76/78 in PLAAF , then those IL76 will transformed to other brigades or will be retired

__________________________________________

Anyone's know what the update on Y20 based tankers, when can we see there production and induction

If this is a question, then yes and no IMO. Yes, they will slowly replace the Il-76/78s but not yet and I'm quite sure in order to expand the PLAAF's airlift capacity, they will keep them in service as long as possible.

Concerning the second point - "will transformed to other brigades" - is indeed a question I'm spinning around since years. Historically the PLAAF had only three Transport brigades with only two of them true active for military transport (namely the 4th and 13th TDs; the 34th is more a VIP unit) but if they really a´want to expand both their airlift and tanker capacity, then new units need to be formed or convert from other duties to tanker/transport units.

and for your last question ... the Y-20U is in production and has allegedly entered service within the 13th TD.

 

[Scorpiooo]

If this is a question, then yes and no IMO. Yes, they will slowly replace the Il-76/78s but not yet and I'm quite sure in order to expand the PLAAF's airlift capacity, they will keep them in service as long as possible.

Concerning the second point - "will transformed to other brigades" - is indeed a question I'm spinning around since years. Historically the PLAAF had only three Transport brigades with only two of them true active for military transport (namely the 4th and 13th TDs; the 34th is more a VIP unit) but if they really a´want to expand both their airlift and tanker capacity, then new units need to be formed or convert from other duties to tanker/transport units.

and for your last question ... the Y-20U is in production and has allegedly entered service within the 13th TD.

Thanks for sharing, if they build new units, then mean huge expension for PLAAF in form of operational capacities. Like they are expending navy

 

[Polestar 2]

@Deino these Y20s will replace IL76/78 in PLAAF , then those IL76 will transformed to other brigades or will be retired

__________________________________________

Anyone's know what the update on Y20 based tankers, when can we see there production and induction

PLAAF are spendthrift. They will used IL-76 even more frequent if possible to make full use of it's lifespan to support whatever mission. Just like SU-27SK which PLAAF imported had already retired due to high intense usage by training pilot to expend it's lifespan to the maximum.

 

[sheik]

PLAAF are spendthrift. They will used IL-76 even more frequent if possible to make full use of it's lifespan to support whatever mission. Just like SU-27SK which PLAAF imported had already retired due to high intense usage by training pilot to expend it's lifespan to the maximum.

J-10A might be another example.