The strategic military transport aircraft will be launched on the international market in November, and the Y-20BE model was unveiled to Nigeria’s Minister of Defense, Mohammed Badal Abubakar, who is visiting Beijing, military magazine Weapons Industry Science and Technology reported last week. .
Dubbed the “chubby girl” for its large fuselage, this heavy-lift aircraft is comparable to the Soviet Union’s Ilyushin Il-76 and the American Boeing C-17.
According to the report, this will be an opportunity for China to “establish deeper strategic ties and cooperation with the countries that have acquired the Y-20.”
Its manufacturer, state-run Xi’an Aircraft Industry Corporation (XAIC), is operating assembly lines for mass production to improve efficiency and expand production capacity, state broadcaster CCTV reported in November.
Instead of assembling an aircraft at a fixed workstation, its parts move along a “pulse line” as each work step is completed, similar to how cars are manufactured. These assembly lines are used to build some of the world’s most advanced aircraft, including the Lockheed Martin F-35 and Boeing 787.
China warns military enthusiasts not to take photos of sensitive equipment
China warns military enthusiasts not to take photos of sensitive equipment
CCTV reports that more than 90 percent of the Y-20’s parts are made with digital systems, and footage of the XAIC factory’s high-precision assembly operations using robotic arms, remote control operations, and laser assistance has been shown. Ta.
The magazine reports that the factory’s production capacity can meet demand from both the Chinese Air Force and overseas customers.
“Y-20 production speed is the fastest of its kind in the world,” the company said.
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China airs footage of Fujian aircraft carrier equipped with advanced catapult launch system
China airs footage of Fujian aircraft carrier equipped with advanced catapult launch system
XAIC has delivered nearly 100 aircraft to the People’s Liberation Army Air Force to date, about half of which were delivered in the past two years. It also switched from the Russian-made Soloviev D-30KP-2 engine to the more powerful Chinese-made Shenyang WS-20 turbofan engine.
Variants, the Y-20U aerial refueling aircraft and the Y-20AEW aerial early warning and control aircraft, were also developed.