Y-20

China's first indigenous strategic airlifter — a four-engine heavy transport that closed the PLA's power-projection gap, and the platform for the YY-20 aerial tanker that now stretches Chinese combat radius far beyond the first island chain.

Overview

The Xi’an Y-20, named Kunpeng after the mythical bird that transforms from a fish into an immense winged creature, is a strategic four-engine turbofan transport aircraft developed for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). It is the first heavy airlifter designed and manufactured entirely in China, delivering a payload capacity broadly comparable to the Russian Il-76 and approaching that of the American C-17 Globemaster III. Beyond its primary airlift role, the type has rapidly spawned a dedicated aerial tanker variant — the YY-20 — that has dramatically increased the reach of the PLAAF’s combat aircraft, including its H-6N strategic bombers and new-generation fighters.

🔒 The full Y-20 file is for BattlePolicy Pro members. Below the line: development history, design and capabilities, variants, the combat record, advantages and limitations, comparable systems, outlook, the full specifications table, our sourcing, and the analyst assessment — procurement, suppliers and the BattlePolicy verdict. Unlock the full file with BattlePolicy Pro →