XAC Y-20 - China's giant bird … Plus the smaller brother Y-15

[Ali_Baba]

China gets rid of Russian D-30 engines after $1.4 billion purchase​

PLA converts Y-20B military transport aircraft to WS-20 units​

2026-07-14
The Chinese army leadership has begun converting heavy Y-20B transport aircraft to domestically developed WS-20 engines. Previously, these aircraft flew with Russian D-30KP-2 power plants.

D-30
Источник изображения: Wikipedia
Domestic engines are inferior to the WS-20 in thrust – 118 kN versus 128 kN. Also, the maximum payload capacity of the aircraft has increased from 60 to 66–70 tons. Now, the Y-20B can transport the latest Chinese "Type 99A" tanks with full ammunition without restrictions.

Russia supplied China with a total of 463 D-30KP-2 engines between 2009 and 2020. The total value of all contracts exceeded $1.4 billion.

Y-20B
Источник изображения: Wikipedia
Deliveries were carried out in three major waves through Rosoboronexport, with ODK-Saturn acting as the manufacturer.

It should be noted that Russian Il-76MD and Il-78 transport aircraft still fly with D-30KP-2 engines.

https://www1.ru/en/news/2026/07/14/kitai-izbavliaetsia-ot-rossiiskix-dvigatelei-d-30-posle-zakupki-na-14-mlrd-dollarov.html

What can china do with 463 D-30KP-2 engines?

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

What can china do with 463 D-30KP-2 engines?

It has been installed on 100+ Y-20A, so that's it.

 

[wangdefa]

It has been installed on 100+ Y-20A, so that's it.

Or it can be used in the export model Y20E in the future.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

Or it can be used in the export model Y20E in the future.

All D-30KP-2 engines will soon be depleted.

China usually prefers to export its aircraft with its domestic engines to boost its supply chain.

China is exporting the J-10C with the WS-10B, and will also export the Y-20B with the WS-20.

 

[wangdefa]

All D-30KP-2 engines will soon be depleted.

China usually prefers to export its aircraft with its domestic engines to boost its supply chain.

China is exporting the J-10C with the WS-10B, and will also export the Y-20B with the WS-20.

According to international practice, the engine of the export model will differ from the same model used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
Equipped with ws20E?Youth Edition.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

According to international practice, the engine of the export model will differ from the same model used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
Equipped with ws20E?Youth Edition.

I think it is still going to be labeled as the WS-20 just like the WS-10B from the J-10B.

And the Pakistan air force has also confirmed the afterburner thrust of the WS-10B being 145 KN.