Images and videos circulating online suggest that China has conducted flight tests of its new medium transport aircraft, the Y-30. The aircraft is expected to complement the country’s large transport plane, the Y-20, and replace the Y-9 series currently in service.
The Y-30 features a payload capacity of 25-30 tons and is powered by four turboprop engines. Aviation experts note that the new aircraft can fill the gap between medium and large transport needs while offering potential for modification into specialized mission platforms, including anti-submarine patrol, reconnaissance, early warning, and electronic warfare roles.
Although no official announcement has been made by the Chinese military or state media, the Y-30 model was first displayed in 2014 at Airshow China in Zhuhai. Experts suggest that the new medium transport aircraft addresses existing capacity gaps and strengthens China’s airlift capabilities for both military and strategic missions.
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