The 2024 African Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (AAD-2024), on September 18, kicked off at Watcrouff Air Force Base in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, and a Chinese Air Force Y-20 transport aircraft flew to South Africa via Djibouti and made its debut at the exhibition.
The Y-20 is a large multi-purpose military transport aircraft equipped with four Russian-made D-30KP-2 turbofan engines. The subsequent production model will be equipped with four domestically produced WS-20 turbofan engines with large bypass ratios. The engine diameter of the domestic WS-20 is significantly larger than that of the Russian-made engine, so it is nicknamed "wine barrel" by Chinese netizens.
After the replacement of the WS-20 engine, the Y-20 is called the Y-20B transport aircraft, which belongs to the real "complete body" of the Y-20. The original intention of the maximum take-off weight of 220 tons and the maximum load capacity of 66 tons was achieved. Compared with the D-30KP-2, the WS-20 is quieter and less fuel-efficient, allowing the Y-20B to have a range of 8,000 kilometers.
Y-20, with advanced on-board electronic equipment, large payload capacity and excellent short runway take-off and landing performance, can perform long-distance air transportation tasks of materials and personnel under various complex meteorological conditions.
On August 28, the Y-20 transport aircraft was invited to participate in the first international air show in Egypt and flew over the pyramid in formation with the J-10 fighter demonstration aircraft. In addition to the static display during the air show, on September 3, there was also a wonderful air show over El Alamein.
It not only demonstrates the superior flight performance of the Y-20, but also reflects the excellent tactical quality of the pilots of the Chinese Air Force. It left an extremely deep impression on netizens at home and abroad, and made the Y-20, a large transport aircraft, spread its reputation in the Middle East.
It is reported that the spacious belly of the Y-20 is a 6-ton foreign trade version of the Z-10ME armed helicopter, which flew directly to the Watcrouff Air Force Base where the South Africa Defense Exhibition is located, and the Y-20 and Z-10ME gunships were exhibited as physical aircraft rather than models.
The Y-20, officially known as the Kunpeng by the military, is named after the legendary Dapeng bird in ancient China, that is, the Peng bird transformed into a Kunyu. However, its "chubby" size and strong carrying capacity are affectionately called "chubby girls" and "chubby girls" by Chinese netizens.
The four-engine "Fat Girl", with its huge body, can meet China's global heavy transportation needs. It appeared at the 2024 Africa Aerospace & Defense Exhibition, reflecting China's growing interest in strengthening military cooperation with African countries, including South Africa.
The Y-20, developed by AVIC Xi'an with the help of the Antonov Design Bureau, is China's first domestically produced heavy jet transport aircraft. In terms of size and performance, it is comparable to the two world-famous large jet transport aircraft developed during the Soviet era, the I-76 Gengzhi and the United States C-17 Globemaster III, designed to meet the PLA's strategic and tactical airlift delivery requirements.
After its first successful flight on January 26, 2013, the Y-20 began to be included in the Chinese Air Force, and so far, the fleet size has exceeded the 100 mark, which can squeeze into the top three large jet transport aircraft in the world.
Now, the Y-20 has become a key asset of the Chinese Air Force's main military logistics operations, significantly enhancing the global influence of the Chinese People's Liberation Army due to its ability to deliver tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled guns, helicopters, anti-aircraft missile systems, and combat personnel and combat readiness materials thousands of kilometers away from the mainland.
During the epidemic, the Y-20 flew to Myanmar, Laos, Pakistan and other countries with masks, goggles, protective clothing, ventilators, nucleic acid testing kits, etc., and carried out non-war military operations abroad for the first time. The Y-20 has contributed to strengthening international cooperation in the fight against the epidemic, safeguarding international public health security, and building a community with a shared future for mankind.
In short, judging from the appearance and shape, the Y-20 that appeared at Watcrow Air Base is equipped with a Russian-made D-30KP-2 engine, which is the basic version of the Y-20. Its participation in the 2024 Africa Aerospace and Defense Exhibition as a physical aircraft rather than a model is widely seen by the outside world as a strategic move by China to strengthen defense ties with African countries.
Y-20, participation in this defense exhibition not only demonstrates China's technological progress in the field of military aviation, but also shows China's commitment to expanding the influence of military equipment on the African continent.
Like the Z-10ME gunships, China is actively looking for African customers who are interested in China's aviation and military equipment, reflecting China's ambition to strengthen defense cooperation with African countries.
Judging from the development trend of African countries and the pursuit of modernization in the aviation field, the armies of Egypt, Nigeria and other countries are likely to become potential customers of the Y-20 large transport aircraft, showing their outstanding strategic value.
Nigeria, in particular, is a large African country with significant oil revenues and ample funds to purchase Y-20 transport aircraft. The C-130H Hercules, which has been in service for a long time, urgently needs to be replaced by a new type of transport aircraft due to poor support.