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

[Deino]

Finally we have a confirmed serial number 20342 on a 13th Transport Division, 37th Air Regiment‘s Y-20B based at Kaifeng.

(Image via @鼎盛大彪 from Weibo)

 

[Deino]

So far the clearest image of an operational Y-20B.

(Image via test1979/SDF)

 

[Deino]

A new image of the KJ-3000

 

[iblini]

A new image of the KJ-3000

View attachment 103909View attachment 103910

Huge radar and pointy nose.

 

[Deino]

I actually think the nose is not much different, but indeed the radar is huge and my gut-feeling tells me, there is another array/radome on the rear

 

[blueboy7862]

So far the clearest image of an operational Y-20B.

(Image via test1979/SDF)

View attachment 100961

Good replacement for PAF's IL-78 if ordered.

 

[Michael]

A new image of the KJ-3000

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It now has a Chinese nickname: “大盘鸡”. Sometimes it is also written as “大盘机”.

Good replacement for PAF's IL-78 if ordered.

The Y-20E has been publicly demonstrated before. so, we are sure that it is exportable.

But, currently PLAAF is seriously lacking Y-20/Y-20B/YY-20, and AVIC's priority is to fulfill PLAAF's needs first. If PLAAF needs to procure Y-20E/YY-20E, it may have to wait a little longer.

 

[iblini]

 

[Deino]

A Y-20B again

 

[Deino]

Do we have by any means a reliable comparison of both the original D-30KP-2 vs the "improved" Chinese WS-18?

And even more any credible information if the Y-20As and H-6N are still using the original engine or the new one and if both are identifiable?

@Michael

 

[Michael]

Do we have by any means a reliable comparison of both the original D-30KP-2 vs the "improved" Chinese WS-18?

And even more any credible information if the Y-20As and H-6N are still using the original engine or the new one and if both are identifiable?

@Michael

The WS-18 is an engine copied and upgraded by AVIC Chengdu Engine Company based on the D-30KP-2.
In 2015, the company announced on its official website that the engine had successfully completed test flights.

In 2016, Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) was established.All engine-related industries under AVIC were merged into the newly established AECC.The company was also integrated into AECC.

WS-18 compared to D-30KP-2: small increase in thrust and about 20% lower fuel consumption.
This is mainly due to the fact that China is ahead of Russia in materials technology.

However, the WS-18 is a transitional experimental engine. the core goal of the Y-20 is still to use the WS-20 engine.
As for the use of WS-18/D-30KP-2 for the H-6 series, the official media did not announce it. There are a lot of news from other media or social media, but the credibility is not high.

Now, it is no longer possible to check the official news about the WS-18.

 

[Deino]

Update on GE: 1. October 2024 showing 4 YY-20A & 11 Y-20B + the KJ-3000 AEW prototype

 

[Deino]

 

[Ali_Baba]

View attachment 108643

So - the new engines are operational ?

 

[Deino]

So - the new engines are operational ?

Yes, at least since November 2024 there have been 5 operational Y-20B at Kaifeng.