As a large transport aircraft of great strategic significance in China, the Y-20 has made remarkable breakthroughs in static tests and destructive tests. First, let's take a look at the structure of the Y-20. In order to ensure the ability to transport heavy materials, the structural design of the Y-20 is very complex, and the static test has become an important part of the research and development process. Static testing requires a large team of hundreds of people to work together to complete. During the trial, the team needed to ensure that a value related to load capacity was between 100% and 120%, and only within this range could the strength be demonstrated. During the test, when 111% was reached, the wing of the Y-20 instantly cracked, which not only showed that the structure of the Y-20 met the strength requirements, but also demonstrated the full potential of materials and design. The audience erupted in thunderous applause, accompanied by bursts of screams, cheering for the perfect test results.
In addition to the amazing scene at the test site, the Y-20 has also attracted international attention. At the Dubai Airshow, the appearance of the Y-20 attracted great attention. Although it is impossible to know whether the turbofan 18 or turbofan 20 engine is on display, there is no doubt that the load capacity of the reissued version of the Y-20 has exceeded the limit of 60 tons, which is of great strategic importance. Compared with transport aircraft of the same type, the Y-20 performs well in the international market. For example, compared with the Il-76, although the Il-76 has a maximum take-off weight and cargo capacity of only 60 tons, the cargo compartment volume is smaller, while the Y-20 is a first-class transport aircraft with more advanced performance. Compared to the American C-17 Globemaster 3 transport aircraft, the C-17 has a larger maximum take-off weight and cargo compartment volume. However, due to the fact that the C-17 did not have a significant competitive advantage in the international market, the United States discontinued the production of this model early, and even if the production line was restarted and the Y-20 was competing for the international market, it would not have an advantage. The Y-20 performs well among transport aircraft in its class and has a significant international competitive advantage.
Recently, there was another good news from Yun 20. There are suspicions that a Y-20 was converted into a tanker aircraft and related test flights were carried out. This means that the Y-20 is likely to officially enter the stage of mass production. In comparison, the U.S. Air Force, the world's largest air force, has 223 C-17 and 52 C-5 strategic transport aircraft. Although their numbers may not seem like much, their load capacity can meet the needs of the U.S. military for global deployment. For example, in the recent Palestinian-Israeli conflict, U.S. Transportation Command's C-17 transport aircraft flew more than 60 sorties in just three days, reinforcing two battalions of Patriot air defense systems in response to the missile threat posed by Iran and Yemen to Israel. In 2021, when the US military fully withdrew from Afghanistan, although the specific number of transport aircraft was not announced, according to the evacuation materials, the transportation department dispatched at least 1,000 C-17 transport aircraft. It can be seen that 223 C-17s and 52 C-5s can fully meet their airlift needs for such a large-scale demand of the US military. As an army ready to go to the international arena, the number of Y-20 equipment of the PLA may be comparable to that of the C-17, or even more.
The main feature of the Yun 20 is "steady". Benefiting from the Belt and Road economic cooperation network, China's interests abroad are increasing, and the PLA's demand for strategic air transportation will increase accordingly. At the same time, at the moment the PLA does not have equipment comparable to such a super-large transport aircraft as the C-5. Therefore, even if it is only to meet the needs of the five major theaters of the People's Liberation Army to "go out" or "fight out", the number of equipment of the Y-20 will exceed that of the C-17. However, we must also be clear that this is not a goal that can be achieved in the short term. This is not because the production capacity of the Y-20 cannot keep up, but because the PLA does not currently have enough demand to digest such a large number of transport aircraft. As mentioned earlier, the US Air Force equips such a massive C-17 for global strategic deployment. Therefore, in the absence of clear needs of the PLA, the production capacity and the number of equipment of the Y-20 may not grow in a faulty manner, but will continue to grow steadily, which is not only in line with China's actual situation, but also follows the principle of doing what it can, and will not be affected by the United States and fall into the vicious circle of the arms race.
To sum up, the static test of the whole machine of the Y-20 has achieved remarkable results, and its test success is of great significance to the Y-20. The Y-20 is considered to have reached a high level internationally, attracting attention at the Dubai Airshow. It is suspected that the Y-20 was converted into a tanker aircraft and carried out test flight work, which indicates that the Y-20 is likely to officially enter the stage of mass production. Compared to the American C-17, the Y-20 has a significant advantage over transport aircraft of its class. However, the growth in the number of Y-20 equipment in the PLA is likely to continue steadily, since the PLA currently has no place to absorb the need for so many transport aircraft. The main focus of the Y-20 is "stability" and will meet the transportation needs of the PLA in international affairs. Finally, welcome to leave your views and stories on the static test of the Y-20 machine.