When carrying out the static failure test of the Y-20 machine, the designers faced great challenges and pressures. In order to ensure that there will be no problems with the structural strength of the Y-20, hundreds of people in the test team worked together and made great efforts. An important value in the test is the value related to the load capacity, which must be between 100% and 120%, which is a key test of the strength of the organism. When the upper limit of this value was reached 111%, the wing of the Y-20 suddenly broke, which showed that the fuselage structure of the Y-20 not only met the strength requirements, but also fully exploited the potential of materials and design. The broken wing sparked cheers and admiration from the audience, who were highly appreciative of the flawless precision of design and manufacturing.
The success of this destructive test is an important milestone in the development of the Y-20. It proves that the design and manufacturing level of the Y-20 has reached the international advanced level, and has won a high reputation for China's aviation industry. The results of the wing fracture test of the Y-20 also demonstrated to the world China's independent innovation ability and strong strength in the aviation field.
After the Y-20 passed the static failure test of the whole aircraft, it attracted wide attention from the global aviation industry. Compared with the Russian Il-76 and the American C-17 of the same type, the performance of the Y-20 has reached an extremely high level.
The Il-76 has a maximum take-off weight and capacity of only 60 tons, and the cargo compartment volume is also small. As a first-class transport aircraft, the Y-20 has more advanced performance. Although the exact load capacity has not yet been disclosed, the number of equipment for the Y-20 is believed to have exceeded the limit of 60 tons, which significantly strengthens its strategic transport capabilities. In other words, the Y-20 can carry more cargo and supplies, providing strong support for our country's military operations and international assistance.
In addition, the Y-20 has also shown a clear competitive advantage in the international market. As the main transport aircraft of the United States, the C-17 has a maximum take-off weight and cargo compartment volume that is larger than that of the Il-76. However, the high cost of the C-17** limits its competitiveness in the international market. In contrast, the Y-20 not only has excellent performance, but also has the best advantages. As a result, the Y-20 is expected to achieve better sales performance in the international market.
According to reports, it is possible that the Y-20 will be converted into a tanker aircraft and has already entered the stage of relevant test flight work. This news indicates that the Y-20 is likely to officially enter the stage of mass production. In comparison, the US Air Force, as the most powerful air force in the world, has 223 C-17 and 52 C-5 strategic transport aircraft, although its scale may not seem like much, but it is enough to meet the needs of the US military for global deployment.
In the recent Palestinian-Israeli conflict, for example, the United States sent more than 60 C-17 transport planes and Patriot air defense systems to counter the missile threat from Iran and Yemen. In addition, when the US military withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, at least 1,000 sorties of C-17 transport aircraft were dispatched. These examples fully demonstrate the powerful transport capabilities of the C-17.
Therefore, it can be assumed that the PLA, as an army ready to strengthen overseas operations, may not have less than the number of equipment of the Y-20 than the C-17. However, it should be noted that in the current situation that the PLA has not yet clarified the needs, the production and the number of equipment of the Y-20 may not increase in a faulty way, but steadily and gradually. The PLA will act according to its actual needs and its own actual strength to avoid falling into the vicious circle of an arms race.
As China's overseas interests under the Belt and Road Initiative increase, the PLA will have a greater demand for strategic airlift in the future. However, at present, the PLA is not equipped with super-large transport aircraft comparable to the C-5, so even if it is only to meet the needs of the PLA to "go out" or "fight out" in the five major theaters, the number of equipment of the Y-20 will be more than that of the C-17.
However, we need to be clear that this is not an achievable goal in the short term. This is not because the production capacity of the Y-20 cannot keep up, but because the PLA does not have so much demand in the current situation. The U.S. Air Force is equipped with such a massive C-17 to meet the needs of its global strategic deployment, while the PLA needs it relatively little. Therefore, it is expected that the output and equipment quantity of the Y-20 will not increase in a faulty manner, but will continue to increase steadily.
The success of the Y-20 static test marks an important breakthrough in China's aviation industry in the field of large transport aircraft. The Y-20 is highly competitive in the international aviation market, surpassing the Il-76 in performance and comparable to the C-17. The Y-20 is expected to surpass the C-17 in terms of equipment and is expected to meet the strategic transportation needs of the PLA in the five theaters of operations. However, the growth of the production and equipment volume of the Y-20 will be carried out steadily to meet the actual needs of the PLA and China's international status at the moment. The Y-20 has developed with a steady attitude and will not blindly join the arms race, which reflects the independent innovation capability of China's aviation industry and the development idea of scientific opportunism.