 Il-76MD Candid
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In an effort to modernize its small and aging transport fleet (mainly Y-7/An-26 and
Y-8/An-12), PLAAF (or CAAC) purchased at least 20 Il-76MD transport
aircraft (max load 48t, normal range 5,000km) from Russia and Uzbekistan in the early 90s in two batches,
and the second batch carries a different light grey color scheme. Even though they were painted as IL-76MD,
these aircraft appear to be the unarmed T/TD model with the tailgun and other military electronics removed.
Operated by China United Airline (B-4030 through 4049), a "civilian" airline owned by PLAAF, these
Il-76MDs are closely associated with Army's airborne divisions (15th Army) in many military exercises,
where they drop not only paratroopers, but also heavy equipment including a new type of FAVs. This can be
viewed as a significant boost to PLA's rapid reacting capability, as demonstrated during the the relief
operations to send 5,000 marines to battle the heavy flood in summer 1998. This capability has been further
enhanced by an unknown number of Il-76MDs leased directly from Russia.
The latest news suggested that China intends to get 38 Il-76s (Il-76MF?) from Uzbekistan by 2003,
a move which would greatly expand PLAAF's airlift capability.
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Y-8X Cub  
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During the 4th Zhuhai Airshow, Shannxi Aircraft Industry Corporation (SAC)
unveiled its new Y-8X medium transport design which is still on the
drawing board. Even though the aircraft was designated as a Y-8/An-12 derivative, it appears to be largely a new
design, with new fuselage, vertical tailfin, advanced avionics and engines. The aircraft features a new C-130
style forward fuselage which houses a 2-crew glass cockpit with digital electronics such as EFIS, FMS and
GPS/INS. Its 4 high efficency 6-blade composite propellers and low fuel consumption turboprop engines give
Y-8X a higher cruising speed and a longer range, compared to the old Y-8s. It is still unclear whether
the turboprop engine will be a domestic design or imported from a foreign country. However Ukrainian
assistance is expected since Antonov OKB has reached an agreement with SAC to help to develop Y-8F600
civilian transport aircraft. Some specifictions: max TO weight 81t, max commercial load 30t, max level speed
660km/h, cruising speed 570km/h, ceiling 11,500m, max range 2,500km (commercial load), max range 6,680km (16t
load). For air-drop missions it can carry 132 paratroopers. The overall performance of Y-8X is broadly comparable to C-130J and A400M but still inferior
to An-70. The emergence of Y-8X project suggests that China has decided to rely on her own aviation
industry and is unlikely to procure any An-70s from Ukraine.
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Y-8E Cub
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Y-8E is the drone carrier variant of Y-8/An-12 transport aircraft. It has
been modified to carry two WZ-5/CH-1 drones under the wing which will
be released in the air for recon missions. The drones are later recovered using parachutes. This design
is similar to American DC-130 which carried two Teledyne Ryan AQM-34Ns during the 60s. Several AQM-34Ns
were shot down over China by HQ-2 SAM and J-6 fighter throughout the 60s. The captured drone was later
reverse-engineered by Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (BUAA) and became
known as WZ-5. Y-8E first flew in 1989 and is now in small
number service (serial number 41x9) replacing the obsolete Tu-4 drone carrier for WZ-5 operations.
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H-6U Badger
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The first glimpse of H-6U (HU-6) tanker was caught when the aircraft,
escorted by two J-8D fighters, flew over Beijing in prepration for the National Day's military
parade on October 1st, 1999. As the first generation tanker operated by PLAAF, it was developed in the
early 90s based on H-6/Tu-16 bomber in order to support J-8D to gain air-superiority over South
China Sea after clashes between Chinese and Vietnamese naval forces in the Spratlys in 1988. The aircraft
carries two underwing hose-and-drogue refuelling pods and can refuel
two J-8Ds simultaneously (a total of four J-8Ds can be refuelled in one sortie). New
navigational, EW and flight control systems were also installed. However, compared to KC-135, its
internal fuel capacity is very limited (~18t/24,600l) due to its original design as a medium-range bomber,
and its loitering time is much shorter due to the high fuel consumption rate of two WP-8 turbojets.
Nevertheless since it can fly fast enough, it was chosen instead of Y-8/An-12 as the tanker to support
J-8D (may include JH-7 in the future). H-6U first flew in 1990 and was spotted by
American KH-12 spy satellite in 1996. Currently a total of 10 H-6Us
(serial number 43x9x) are believed to be stationed at the Laiyan Airbase in Guangzhou Military Region,
directly facing Taiwan as well as South China Sea. More H-6Us are expected to be converted
in the future as the prodoction of J-8D continues. In addition to Air Force's H-6U,
the Navy also had a few of its H-6D maritime bombers
converted into the tanker role (H-6DU? serial number 81x2x) in order to support its own J-8D
fleet stationed in the Hainan Island.
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Home
In an effort to modernize its small and aging transport fleet (mainly Y-7/An-26 and
Y-8/An-12), PLAAF (or CAAC) purchased at least 20 Il-76MD transport
aircraft (max load 48t, normal range 5,000km) from Russia and Uzbekistan in the early 90s in two batches,
and the second batch carries a different light grey color scheme. Even though they were painted as IL-76MD,
these aircraft appear to be the unarmed T/TD model with the tailgun and other military electronics removed.
Operated by China United Airline (B-4030 through 4049), a "civilian" airline owned by PLAAF, these
Il-76MDs are closely associated with Army's airborne divisions (15th Army) in many military exercises,
where they drop not only paratroopers, but also heavy equipment including a new type of FAVs. This can be
viewed as a significant boost to PLA's rapid reacting capability, as demonstrated during the the relief
operations to send 5,000 marines to battle the heavy flood in summer 1998. This capability has been further
enhanced by an unknown number of Il-76MDs leased directly from Russia.
The latest news suggested that China intends to get 38 Il-76s (Il-76MF?) from Uzbekistan by 2003,
a move which would greatly expand PLAAF's airlift capability.
During the 4th Zhuhai Airshow, Shannxi Aircraft Industry Corporation (SAC)
unveiled its new Y-8X medium transport design which is still on the
drawing board. Even though the aircraft was designated as a Y-8/An-12 derivative, it appears to be largely a new
design, with new fuselage, vertical tailfin, advanced avionics and engines. The aircraft features a new C-130
style forward fuselage which houses a 2-crew glass cockpit with digital electronics such as EFIS, FMS and
GPS/INS. Its 4 high efficency 6-blade composite propellers and low fuel consumption turboprop engines give
Y-8X a higher cruising speed and a longer range, compared to the old Y-8s. It is still unclear whether
the turboprop engine will be a domestic design or imported from a foreign country. However Ukrainian
assistance is expected since Antonov OKB has reached an agreement with SAC to help to develop Y-8F600
civilian transport aircraft. Some specifictions: max TO weight 81t, max commercial load 30t, max level speed
660km/h, cruising speed 570km/h, ceiling 11,500m, max range 2,500km (commercial load), max range 6,680km (16t
load). For air-drop missions it can carry 132 paratroopers. The overall performance of Y-8X is broadly comparable to C-130J and A400M but still inferior
to An-70. The emergence of Y-8X project suggests that China has decided to rely on her own aviation
industry and is unlikely to procure any An-70s from Ukraine.
Y-8E is the drone carrier variant of Y-8/An-12 transport aircraft. It has
been modified to carry two WZ-5/CH-1 drones under the wing which will
be released in the air for recon missions. The drones are later recovered using parachutes. This design
is similar to American DC-130 which carried two Teledyne Ryan AQM-34Ns during the 60s. Several AQM-34Ns
were shot down over China by HQ-2 SAM and J-6 fighter throughout the 60s. The captured drone was later
reverse-engineered by Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (BUAA) and became
known as WZ-5. Y-8E first flew in 1989 and is now in small
number service (serial number 41x9) replacing the obsolete Tu-4 drone carrier for WZ-5 operations.
The first glimpse of H-6U (HU-6) tanker was caught when the aircraft,
escorted by two J-8D fighters, flew over Beijing in prepration for the National Day's military
parade on October 1st, 1999. As the first generation tanker operated by PLAAF, it was developed in the
early 90s based on H-6/Tu-16 bomber in order to support J-8D to gain air-superiority over South
China Sea after clashes between Chinese and Vietnamese naval forces in the Spratlys in 1988. The aircraft
carries two underwing hose-and-drogue refuelling pods and can refuel
two J-8Ds simultaneously (a total of four J-8Ds can be refuelled in one sortie). New
navigational, EW and flight control systems were also installed. However, compared to KC-135, its
internal fuel capacity is very limited (~18t/24,600l) due to its original design as a medium-range bomber,
and its loitering time is much shorter due to the high fuel consumption rate of two WP-8 turbojets.
Nevertheless since it can fly fast enough, it was chosen instead of Y-8/An-12 as the tanker to support
J-8D (may include JH-7 in the future). H-6U first flew in 1990 and was spotted by
American KH-12 spy satellite in 1996. Currently a total of 10 H-6Us
(serial number 43x9x) are believed to be stationed at the Laiyan Airbase in Guangzhou Military Region,
directly facing Taiwan as well as South China Sea. More H-6Us are expected to be converted
in the future as the prodoction of J-8D continues. In addition to Air Force's H-6U,
the Navy also had a few of its H-6D maritime bombers
converted into the tanker role (H-6DU? serial number 81x2x) in order to support its own J-8D
fleet stationed in the Hainan Island.
