By Levina

China’s aviation industry is moving forward with the development of its newest military transport and aerial refueling aircraft. The Y-20B, is a modernized version of the Y-20, also called the “Chubby Girl” due to its wider fuselage compared to previous Chinese aircraft. The latest pics of Y-20B, belonging to People’s Liberation Army’s Airforce/PLAAF, undergoing flight tests show that it has a temporary registration number of 7812.

From Y-20 to Y-20B:

The Y-20B is built on the foundation of the Y-20, China’s primary large military transport aircraft. Y-20B ostensibly has engines that provide significantly more power, allowing it to carry greater fuel load, which also means that the Y-20B can refuel multiple aircraft during a single mission.

China’s older aerial refueling aircraft, such as the HY-6 and the Russian-built Ilyushin Il-76 airlifters, are slowly being phased out. Myriad reports claim that by the early 2030s, the Y-20B will fully replace these aging fleets. The PLAAF already has 50 Y-20A transport aircraft and 8 YY-20 tankers. According to a report by the Aviation Week in 2022 PLAAF has a total of 67 Y-20s in service.

The Y-20B has been in the limelight recently. A video from April 2023 showed a Y-20B being loaded with cargo and conducting an air-drop under parachutes, suggesting that the aircraft might already be operational with the PLAAF. The registration number was not visible in this case.

Whilst some reports suggest that the aircraft is already operational, official confirmation remains elusive.

Earlier, in 2020, The War Zone reported on the Y-20B conducting test flights at Xi’an-Yanliang Air Base, highlighting the steady progress in its development. These flight tests are critical for assessing the aircraft’s performance and ensuring it meets the operational requirements of the PLAAF, defense experts claim.

Operators:

According to information available on internet, Y-20 aircraft are operated by two regiments: one in the 4th Transport Division and another in the 13th Transport Division. With the development of the Y-20B, these units are expected to see even better capabilities and versatility added to their fleets.