China's Y-20 Military-Technical Jet Is Trying to Compete with the Il-76

China is trying to bring the Xian Y-20A military transport aircraft to the world market. In early September, this aircraft participated in an arms exhibition in Egypt, and is now present at a similar forum in South Africa, although it has not previously been seen at an air show in Africa.

The Y-20, officially named Kunpeng after a mythical fish-bird-like creature but nicknamed "chubby girl," is China's first indigenously produced heavy transport aircraft.

The aircraft was developed with the support of the Antonov Design Bureau. It is comparable in size and characteristics to the Russian Il-76 military-technical aircraft and the American Boeing C-17 Globemaster III.

- says the publication Defense Web.

Since its first flight in 2013 and acceptance into service in 2016, the aircraft has become a key asset in Chinese military logistics operations.

Before the Y-20, the PLAAF relied on the Il-76, but used them in small numbers (about 20 aircraft).

- noted in the publication.

Now, about 60 Y-20s are in service with the PLAAF, with more in production. Against this backdrop, China has begun to actively promote the aircraft for export, trying to compete with the Il-76 and C-17.

The Y-20 has a maximum payload of 60-65 t and a maximum takeoff weight of 220 t. It can transport a wide range of military equipment, from tanks and armored vehicles to helicopters.

_{Y-20 at AAD 2024 in South Africa}

The aircraft features a number of advanced technologies, including a glass cockpit equipped with a HUD display for pilots, and uses composite materials in its construction to reduce weight while maintaining strength and durability.

The initial version is equipped with 4 Russian D-30KP-2 engines (thrust 12 thousand kg). However, the Y-20B modification made it possible to abandon these power plants by switching to Chinese WS-20, which have greater power (14 thousand kg).

At the same time, the Y-20A variant with Russian engines is offered for export first and foremost. Apparently, this is a commercial "trick": the Il-76 is also equipped with a D-30KP, which allows the countries operating it to switch to the Chinese aircraft more painlessly.

Comments

[Bolt cutter]

The aircraft was developed with the support of the Antonov Design Bureau.

Why create competitors?

[Petr_Koldunov]

Quote: Pete Mitchell

It may be just me, but family traits can be seen, especially in the nose.

And also in the center section and planes... there is also a decent similarity with jet ANs.

[SovAr238A]

It looks much more like a C-17 than an AN.
No resemblance to AN.

[TermNachTer]

Well, "An-70" is not "Il-76" at all, it's in a different weight category. So, Antonov was most likely simply "dragged in" without understanding what they were writing about.

[bayard]

Quote: TermNachTER

Well, the An-70 is not the Il-76 at all, it’s in a different weight category.

Quite the opposite, it has a maximum load capacity of 35-37 tons, which is even slightly more than the early Il-76. And its fuselage cross-section is even larger, which removed such strict requirements for dimensions.
The An-70 was designed at the end of the USSR to replace the An-12 fleet, with a lifting capacity of 20-25 tons. But the engines with such effective coaxial fans turned out to be significantly more powerful than the calculated ones (the same engines were going to be installed on the Yak-44) and Antonov's designers decided not to be shy and take everything from them. The result was a transport aircraft with almost the same lifting capacity as the Il-76MD, and also with a fuselage with a larger cross-section than its competitor. Because of this, certain confusion arose - "we need 20-25 tons", but then they decided to build them in Ulyanovsk and even prepared production lines for this, a new assembly shop ... But the US balked and our side, after waiting a bit, decided to simply resume production of the Il-76MD-90A, moving production from Tashkent ... This is not very successful for the "effective" ones, and the An-70 was about twice as economical (this is always the case with turboprops).
Ideally, for a carrying capacity of 20-25 tons, it would be possible to use a slightly smaller glider with two such engines, and we would get a medium-sized transport aircraft.
Now the Russian Federation does not have a medium transport aircraft to replace the An-12, and no one is even designing it - there is no one... What do you mean - the An-2 is not capable of repeating it. "Efficient" ones are a terrible force. Destructive.

[bayard]

Quote: Pete Mitchell

, because they successfully failed to pull off their An-70 project.

They pulled it all out, a very good plane appeared, and the engines are just a gem. The US banned them - forced the Sumerians to leave the project, although it is a joint project of the Russian Federation and b\u50bwith 50/XNUMX financing. It was supposed to be built in Ulyanovsk.

Quote: Pete Mitchell

It may be just me, but family traits can be seen, especially in the nose.

This is what catches everyone's eye - a slightly scaled An-70 with jet engines.

[Pete mitchell]

Quote: bayard

The US banned - forced the Sumerians to leave the project, although it is a joint project of the Russian Federation and the former with 50/50 financing

This is all a well-known story. But, I don't understand why, during the 'divorce', they didn't get the documentation in hand, and especially the engine. The engine was good and promising. After all, during the divorce with the Italians, the M346/Yak-130 got what they deserved.
Although this is of course an influence servile policy - the Americans have bent everyone over.

[bayard]

Quote: Pete Mitchell

Why, during the 'divorce', did you not receive the documentation in hand, and especially the engine.

Probably because without cooperation with Antonov and Motor Sich it was impossible to build such an aircraft. Especially since the engine was from Ivchenko, they wouldn't have given it to us. And even if we had managed to get the technical documentation for it, there was simply nowhere to build such engines.
With two such engines it would have been possible to obtain an analogue of the An-12 in terms of load capacity... But the "effective" idlers didn't need any of this, they were already sharpening their saws to resume production of the Il-76MD-90A. They are not even capable of repeating the An-2, how could they deal with such complexities.

[Pete mitchell]

Here the enemy's policy played its role - they cannot be accused of lack of determination

[bayard]

Quote: Pete Mitchell

You can't blame them for lack of determination

That's true. But you can't reproach the "sovereign boyars" for their determination.

[Pete mitchell]

Quote: bayard

you can't reproach the "sovereign boyars" for their determination

What can we expect from 'defective managers'There are many managers, government officials among them... oops

[Dedok]

Why create competitors?

It's you there who may have questions...
and here... they brought in the money and the work began, and why and for what reason - for those who work - there will be no questions

[Rakitin]

So, even before Muidan, the Chinese bought up the entire Antonov Design Bureau in Kuiwa - specialists were taken to the Celestial Empire with their families and for decent salaries. As I understand, up to 5 people left there.

[svp67]

Against this backdrop, China began to actively promote this aircraft for export, trying to compete with the Il-76 and C-17.

Considering that we currently export little, the chances of the Chinese "Xerox" displacing us and then forcing us out are high.

[Nexcom]

Yes, the "Xerox" works 24/7, you can't take that away from the Chinese, they know how to "plow"...

[dauria]

"Xerox", you say? No one except the Chinese brought soil from the far side of the Moon. And 35 years ago, no one bought anything from them except thermoses and down jackets.

[Nexcom]

Precisely a Xerox. And the ability to use the results of this Xerox. Otherwise they wouldn't be grazing in our laboratories - I personally see it.

[dauria]

Stop it. Their science and scientists are already at the best world level in many areas. What the hell "Xerox" when they have already surpassed the USA in the number of scientific publications.

[Nexcom]

Well, let them glue technology from publications. Don't confuse publications and developments - they are different things.

zy We have one pretzel with a wild Hirsch index and number of publications, but he has not made a single invention. And what is the use of his publications? Is that clear?

[Rakitin]

Until 1890 (and for at least 2000 years before that), China was the world's number one economy by GDP. It became so again in 2013. The Chinese themselves view the 123-year "temporary anomaly" when the US came out on top as an accident that is unable to change the "correct course of events" according to which the Celestial Empire was, is, and will be the center of the world. That's how it is...

[Glagol1]

I don't think it will lift 65 tons. The Il-76MD-90 is a more advanced aircraft with powerful engines and can lift a maximum of 55-60 tons. But it is a copy, you can't take that away.

[bayard]

Quote: Glagol1

Il-76MD-90 - a more advanced machine with powerful engines takes a maximum of 55-60 tons.

The Il-76MD-90A has a smaller cargo cabin - narrower and taller, this is due to the smaller cross-section of the fuselage. And the engine power... The Il-76MD-90A has four at 14,5 t.s., while the whales have four at 14 t.s. with a greater load capacity, this is only due to the more advanced airframe. Which was developed for them by the Antonov Design Bureau on the basis of an enlarged An-70 airframe, this is visible to the naked eye.
But overall the planes are equivalent.

[Scharnhorst]

On the Antonov stamp from the unfinished one a fat cross with an aspen peg has already been put. The niche has become free and the Chinese will not blow the chance that has fallen to them: An - EVERYTHING; Il - does not shine with new products either in engines or in gliders; I think watermelons will be the next to flow.

[paul3390]

I don't think there will be many people willing to buy one with Chinese engines... Fresh stuff always arouses suspicion, especially from a country that, to put it mildly, has not yet shone in engine building... But after 10 years of operation in China itself - maybe...

[I dare to_notice_]

Il-76... In the sky since 75.
The last one whose flight his father saw was Ilyushin (died in 77).
Today is 2024... The Chinese have finally managed to build a replica (with the help of the Soviet bureau of comrade Antonov, which remained in Kyiv).
Only now do you understand what country you were born and lived in...
We still use the fruits of the labors of Soviet designers...
Nothing better has been created yet...

[Nexcom]

So what? When was the first flight of the Boeing 737 Classic? And it has been modernized and rebuilt ever since. What's wrong if the same thing happens to the rather successful Il-76?

[I dare to_notice_]

What's wrong...
With Il? Nothing.
But with a technical education, with fresh design solutions... it's sad.
Regres (in bourgeois style).
Degeneration our way.

[Ross xnumx]

China's Y-20 Military-Technical Jet Is Trying to Compete with the Il-76

And what problems does Russia have, when it can’t even produce airplanes for its own country?
Or are there problems here for those who are cutting up the Russian budget, who are used to doing nothing but cutting?

[tank_killer156]

China, like the USSR, can and can, but what about us, Russia, the successor of the GREAT USSR, what can we do? As a RUSSIAN and born in the USSR, I am ashamed that they screwed up the growth and there is no control over it.

[Amateur]

Y-20A variant with Russian engines.

Because "3 countries" take what works long and reliably. Well, and rich Chinese can change their WS-20 engines after 100-200 hours.

At least in the morning, but on your own
(V. Vysotsky)

[Dedok]

At the same time, the Y-20A variant with Russian engines is offered for export first and foremost. Apparently, this is a commercial "trick": the Il-76 is also equipped with a D-30KP, which allows the countries operating it to switch to the Chinese aircraft more painlessly.

Well, of course: "ours" will be happy to sell the necessary engines to a competitor

[cmax]

These are not competitors. The Chinese churn out theirs like hotcakes, by the dozens, while the IL comes out one by one. Half of Moscow's leadership is going to watch the rollout of one plane. IMHO

[opposite28]

In terms of production volumes, the Chinese military transport aircraft Xian Y-20A can very well compete with the domestic Il-76 of various modifications, but the technical features and reliability are a huge question, given the ability of Chinese designers to build hybrids from copied parts of the best aircraft of foreign manufacturers.

[Uncle_Misha]

If you haven't already. According to article 60, the aircraft are already flying and apparently not crashing. It is possible that in ten years our military transport will switch from IL to a Chinese analogue, and they will call it Moskvich-76.

[opposite28]

Correctly to the Chinese analogue called Il new model, although as a platform Il-76 has not fully realized its potential. A very worthy aircraft.

[Uncle_Misha]

I don't argue, it might be an analogue of the IL, or perhaps a Chinese plane. The Chinese are learning, and quite quickly and well, so they will have both engines and planes.

[opposite28]

I don't argue, it might be an analogue of the IL, or perhaps a Chinese plane. The Chinese are learning, and quite quickly and well, so they will have both engines and planes.

And let them be, as well as the domestic Il-76, Il-86, Il-96, as well as the design bureaus and enterprises produce wonderful machines, but especially those who assemble Il-76 planes, as they say, with soul and preferably more, about managers a separate story. And as for Chinese cars of the brand "Moskvich", so we can say that for bread to the store you can go on foot.

[Uncle_Misha]

As they say, it’s better to drive badly than to walk well, but in the case of the Moskvich I agree with Vasya.

[opposite28]

By the way, in the video example, the Chinese do not take off like that, because they cannot. Both the planes and the pilots, because the question is far from being in skill.

[Uncle_Misha]

I'm not sure that they won't be able to, maybe there is no need for such takeoffs, or maybe they do take off, but there are no videos of such takeoffs. By the way, China already has several dozen fifth-generation aircraft, and they fly them, which means that they have both the aircraft and the pilots.

[opposite28]

I'm not sure that they won't be able to, maybe there is no need for such takeoffs, or maybe they do take off, but there are no videos of such takeoffs. By the way, China already has several dozen fifth-generation aircraft, and they fly them, which means that they have both the aircraft and the pilots.

Because they successfully copy, saving time on design, and the Chinese try not to talk about the mistakes of the original design

[Uncle_Misha]

It is a misconception that the Chinese copy everything and everyone. They acquire licenses and constantly invent something themselves.

[opposite28]

so they will have both engines and planes.

But without damaging domestic production, using political motivations of friendship and other things.

[novel66]

Uncle Misha, why are you doing that with the sickle??? Be careful

[Uncle_Misha]

How much more careful could you be? The sickle is perhaps the most humane action of all humane actions in the world. But in the long run we will have a wonderful choir of effective managers.

[opposite28]

Personally, I like the Il-76 visually and technically, and not some Y-20A. And the way a domestic aircraft named Il-76 flies, no one else flies like it among foreign analogues. Not to mention city-forming enterprises of strategic importance and more.

[Nexcom]

Yes, I saw a video of foreigners being stunned by how an overloaded Il-76 was able to take off from the last meters of the runway... But here we also need to mention our pilots - even if the plane is good - without the skill of the pilots, the hardware will not fly, it, the hardware, cannot fly on its own without pilots...

[Nexcom]

ah, you brought up the video above that I was talking about...

[opposite28]

Yes, I saw a video of foreigners being shocked at how an overloaded Il-76 was able to take off from the last meters of the runway...

Loading in accordance with the performance characteristics requirements and take-off in accordance with the runway requirements. Without much fanaticism

[Nexcom]

Can the Chinese Y-20 do the same? Or will the Chinese pilots' bells not hold up - take off abort, trust down, full reverse, brakes ???

[opposite28]

Can the Chinese Y-20 do the same? Or will the Chinese pilots' bells not hold up - take off abort, trust down, full reverse, brakes ???

Well, it depends on what kind of horses they ride, stolen or their own, that's why they hide the bells and probably that's why they can't find their native runway.

[faiver]

The Chinese have every chance of success

[Larich]

What the hell competition? We need to provide ourselves with Il-76. Of course we can't buy from the Chinese.

[Rob]

Quote: Bolt Cutter

Why create competitors?

Recently, a Russian delegation was in China and offered them engines for the civilian C919.
At the moment, the C919 aircraft are equipped with Western-made engines and the Russian side is worried about possible sanctions against China.
However, it is strange why he is so worried about competitors. There are no engines for Russian aircraft yet, but he is already offering them to China. Perhaps he is planning to close the production of MS21, Tu214 and buy Chinese C919.

[SovAr238A]

China will not buy PD-14.
Firstly, they are many times more expensive than Western ones.
Secondly, they are 15% more voracious.
Thirdly, the rate of their potential production by the end of 26 will not exceed 24 units per year.
There is no potential for: reducing prices, reducing fuel consumption, increasing production rates.

And the delegation simply went on an excursion at government expense.
Tourist trip.