It is reported that China has already started working on the development of the next generation of heavy strategic transport aircraft, and Saudi Arabia is very likely to be China's first overseas user.
There was an article before this one, which was about the numerical simulation of aerodynamic characteristics of our domestically produced super transport aircraft. This caused a lot of heated discussions on social media. Now, news from overseas says that we have entered the substantive research and development phase. According to these analyses, the take-off weight of the new transport aircraft will be as high as 400 tons, with a payload capacity of approximately 120-150 tons, which is more than double that of the Y-20. This puts it on par with the US C-5 and Russia's An-124. If this can be realized, it means that China's aviation industry will write a brand-new history. There are even more astonishing claims saying that China's newly developed heavy transport aircraft is not just 400 tons; it could be a giant transport aircraft at the level of the An-225, reaching 600 tons. At present, it seems that our current Y-20 is difficult to fully meet our requirements. The strategic value of the transport aircraft lies in its payload and sortie capacity.
Taking the United States as an example, its C-5M, the latest improved version, can carry two M1 series main battle tanks, six AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, sixteen 3-ton trucks, or accommodate 270 fully armed soldiers, with a maximum effective payload of 127 tons. The Russian An-124-100M has an even greater payload capacity, reaching 150 tons. In comparison, our Y-20 is much smaller. If it were used to carry main battle tanks, it could only transport one. In the future, we need to have the capability for long-range rapid deployment to protect our interests overseas, so there is a great need for larger transport aircraft. Given our current capabilities, it should be quite feasible to develop such large transport aircraft as soon as possible.
Firstly, let's talk about the fuselage. We have never developed an aircraft with such a large fuselage before, but the Y-20 has accumulated rich experience for us. Moreover, the aerodynamic design of the Y-20 is quite excellent, which sufficiently reflects our expertise in this area. In terms of industrial support and production capacity, we basically have the relevant conditions to produce it without major problems.
Secondly, there is the engine. The engine has always been our shortcoming. As I mentioned earlier, the aerodynamic design of the Y-20 is outstanding. You may notice how well the various surfaces of the Y-20 are designed. However, this also reflects to some extent that we had to compensate for the lack of power by focusing on aerodynamics. In recent years, we have accelerated our progress, using the WS-18 engine. The Y-20 equipped with the WS-18 engine has already been mass-produced with nearly a hundred aircraft. Furthermore, the Y-20B transport aircraft equipped with the WS-20 engine, as well as the derivative aerial refueling variant, the YU-20B tanker, and the KJ-3000 airborne early warning aircraft, have all brought good news. It is said that the Y-20 equipped with the WS-20 will participate in the grand military parade in September this year.
One of the most important aspects of developing large transport aircraft is flight control software, which poses a challenge for us. Its difficulty might even surpass that of sixth-generation aircraft, but we believe we can overcome this challenge. What does Saudi Arabia have to do with our heavy transport aircraft? Actually, Saudi Arabia has been in contact with us regarding large transport aircraft for a long time. They also want to reduce their severe dependence on the United States. Saudi Arabia has similar needs. Look at how they quickly deploy troops from the east to the west, meaning from the eastern part of Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea coast. The demand is quite strong. If you can only transport one tank or an equivalent weight of supplies like the Y-20, clearly, this would not meet Saudi Arabia's needs. Therefore, they hope to transport at least two main battle tanks in one go, reaching the level of the US C-5M. The Y-20 cannot satisfy this requirement.
According to outside information, Saudi Arabia is paying attention to the development of our new heavy transport aircraft and has already made certain requests to us. Of course, it is certain that Saudi Arabia is interested in heavy transport aircraft, but this does not mean they can necessarily buy our products. At least under the pressure of the United States, the political threshold is relatively high.
Original Article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7497150414643577385/
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