DTN News - CHINA DEFENSE NEWS: Y-20 Heavy Lifter Aircraft To Boost Military Capabilities

DTN News - CHINA DEFENSE NEWS:  Y-20 Heavy Lifter Aircraft To Boost Military Capabilities
**The Y-20 aircraft is part of the PLA's plans to modernise its hardware, but engine problems continue to hinder its successful development

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources Minnie Chan - SCMP
(NSI News Source Info) HONG KONG - December 4, 2014: The development of the Y-20 heavy transport aircraft will benefit the military and civilian aviation industries if engine problems can be overcome, military experts said.

Defence Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun confirmed last week it is developing the Y-20 military transport aircraft as part of the People's Liberation Army's modernisation drive and for service in humanitarian and disaster-relief efforts.

Three days earlier, on December 24, several photographs believed to be showing China's first domestically produced heavy-lift military transport plane were posted on a mainland website by military enthusiasts. The aircraft bears a striking resemblance to the US Air Force's C-17 transporter, built by Boeing, but appears to be of a size that might fit somewhere between the C-17 and the Airbus A400M.

As such, it appears that the Y-20 will be wide enough to accommodate most large PLA combat and support vehicles, including its Type 99 series tanks, which weigh close to 55 tonnes.

Yang did not say when the Y-20 would be ready for service, only saying that "the research and development of the large transport aircraft is going forward as planned".

The photographs on the Chaoda Story Land website, a forum for military enthusiasts, were purportedly taken from long range at Xian Aircraft's Yanliang airfield in Shaanxi .

Xian Aircraft Industry is a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the leading military aircraft maker.

Some features of the new transporter can be identified despite the poor quality of the images. It is powered by four jet engines that appear to be Russian Soloviev D-30KU engines, used on Russian Ilyushin Il-62M and Tupolev TU-154M airliners and the Ilyushin Il-76MD, a multi-purpose, four-engine strategic airlifter.

The PLA Air Force operates a small fleet of Russian-made Il-76 transporters powered by the D-30KU engine.

But Andrei Chang, editor-in-chief of the Canadian-based Kanwa Defence Review, said the Y-20 would not use D-30KU engines when development and research was completed.

He said the D-30KU was a noisy fuel-guzzler and even the Russians were abandoning it. China was likely to use a homegrown aircraft engine such as the CJ-1000A displayed at the Zhuhai air show in November, he said.

"I have no idea about the Chinese engines that will be used by the Y-20 as it is still being developed," Chang said. "But it will be a significant jump for China's aviation industry if it successfully develops the Y-20, especially for its larger aircraft projects which can be used for both military and civilian purposes."

Beijing-based military expert Li Jie said the Y-20 project was still in its early days.


"Like other aircraft projects, the Y-20 project is still facing the same problem - engines," he said. "But if we overcome such a knotty problem, the PLA's ability to project military force on the battlefield or send relief materials to disaster-hit areas would definitely be strengthened."

*Related Y-20 Heavy Lifter Aircraft Images;

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources Minnie Chan SCMP
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DTN News: China Sends 4 Divisions On Long-Range Exercise

DTN News: China Sends 4 Divisions On Long-Range Exercise *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) BEIJING, China - August 23, 2009: Four Chinese armored divisions are traveling more than 1,200 kilometers to sharpen their ability to move long distances and conduct exercises in unfamiliar territory. People's Liberation Army soldiers stand in formation during a military exercise in Beijing, China, Tuesday, July 28, 2009. China took foreign journalists on a tour of the People's Liberation Army division north of the capital Tuesday, calling it a sign the world's largest army is improving its openness and transparency. The visit comes ahead of Aug. 1, which marks the 82nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army, which now has 2.3 million members. Dubbed Stride-2009, the two-month exercise, which began Aug. 11, involves 50,000 troops from the Shenyang, Lanzhou, Jinan and Guangzhou regions. Chinese media are calling it the People's Liberation Army's largest-ever tactical armor exercise. "We know that four divisions from four Military Regions will each travel separately by road, rail and air to four separate combined-arms training centers in distant Military Regions," said Dennis Blasko, a former U.S. Army foreign area officer specializing in China. "As with all Chinese use of superlatives, one must be careful to determine exactly what is meant by the 'largest-ever tactical military exercise.'" For example, Blasko said,the tri-service 2001 Liberation-1 amphibious exercise conducted at Dongshan Island lasted four months and involved nearly 100,000 troops. And in the Peace Mission 2007 exercise, 1,600 troops traveled over land from Xinjiang, China, to the mountainous Ural region of Russia. Another analyst said Stride-2009 appeared to be part of China's effort to test and develop its ability to mobilize its armed forces on a large scale. "No matter where it ultimately chooses to send its forces, its first step will be to concentrate them at some point of embarkation within China. That will involve movements of this type," said Thomas Kane, author of the book, "Chinese Grand Strategy and Maritime Power." Kane noted that recent years have seen an increase in internal unrest, with uprisings in Tibet and the Uighur Xinjiang region; angry protests about the response to last year's Sichuan earthquake; and public disruptions linked to a rise in unemployment. But he said these situations simply do not require 50,000 heavily armored troops. Instead, Kane linked Stride-2009 to China's attempt to mimic the C4 revolution in the U.S. military. "In my interpretation, the primary reason for deploying troops in unfamiliar levels is to test command and control procedures," he said. "I scarcely need to add that effective procedures for command, control, communications and whatever else the Pentagon has bolted onto its latest acronym for such concepts are an important part of what distinguishes forces that are effective in warfare from forces that merely look impressive on paper." Stride-2009 is at least the third large PLA exercise this summer. In July, four brigades from the Second Artillery Division had a field exercise, and in June, about 100 aircraft from the Guangzhou Military Region Air Force were involved in another large exercise, Blasko said. "However, it is noteworthy that the earlier Second Artillery and PLAAF exercises were not joint, though at least the deployment phase of Stride-2009 is," he said. "It will be interesting to see how much the PLA Air Force participates in the live-fire phases of the exercise." ■

DTN News: China Air Force To Show Off New Equipment On National Day / China To Show Off New Gear

DTN News: China Air Force To Show Off New Equipment On National Day / China To Show Off New Gear

(NSI News Source Info) BEIJING - May 26 2009: The Chinese air force will show off new high-tech equipment at a grand military parade planned for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Communist state, local media said Tuesday. There has been much speculation on the development of China's J-10 fighter. Many suggested the aircraft's design was based on the Lavi- the unsuccessful attempt by Israel to develop an indigenous F-16 fighter. Only in December 2006 did China officially acknowledged the fielding of the J-10, when the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) released videos and photos of the aircraft via China Central Television (CCTV) and Xinhua News Agency. By then, it was apparent that the J-10 has the potential of becoming one of the most significant fighters in the next few decades.

The production of the J-10 has forced China to quickly adapt to current developmental trends; in addition to utilizing other technologies (Russia, Israel) for the benefit of its final product. The results are promising. Not only does the J-10 pose a risk to the Russian fighter export market, but it considerably boosts the Chinese air force's tactical offensive capabilities, especially vis-a-vis Taiwan. The People's Liberation Army Air Force will put on display new airplanes and surface-to-air missiles, the Beijing News reported, citing Wei Gang, the head of the air force armament department. Among the aircraft to be showcased in the military parade planned for the center of Beijing on October 1 will be the fourth-generation J-10 fighter plane, which has rarely been seen in public. China's air force has benefited immensely from increased military budgets in recent years and has been in the process of replacing its outdated planes with more sophisticated aircraft. As in the past, soldiers, tanks and missiles will parade down Beijing's Avenue of Heavenly Peace on October 1 before gathering in front of the huge portrait of revolutionary leader Mao Zedong in Tiananmen Square. The display of force is largely modeled on the former Soviet Union's military parades in Moscow's Red Square. The 1989 parade for the 40th anniversary was canceled after the military crushed democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in June that year.

Chinese Pilot Gets Top Honors For Saving Faulty Jet Fighter

Chinese Pilot Gets Top Honors For Saving Faulty Jet Fighter

(NSI News Source Info) Beijing - March 31, 2009: A Chinese pilot who successfully brought a malfunctioning jet fighter, a domestically made J-10, in for a landing was given the nation’s First-Class Merit Citation and a Meritorious Pilot gold medal last Thursday.

A Chinese-made J-10 fighter jet flies low during the 7th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition held in Zhuhai, southern China's Guangdong province Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.

Li Feng, 38, an air force pilot with more than 2,000 hours of flight time, encountered an engine problem during a tactical training exercise at an altitude of about 4,500 meters on March 7. With assistance from the command center of a nearby air base, Li tried every possible means to return to base. However, the plane lost all power at an altitude of 1,160 meters, although it was only about 6 km from the base’s runway. “There was some smoke in the cockpit, perhaps generated by the engine, which leaked into the environmental control system,” Lt.-Col. Li said during an interview with China Central Television last week. “All readings on the instrument board vanished, red lights flashed and the radio went out,” he said. Under Air Force rules, fighter pilots may eject if their aircraft loses engine power below 2,000 meters and can’t be restarted. Before Li lost contact with the control tower, the commander in the air base asked him to eject. But Li Feng insisted on having another try. “I knew where the deadline (to abandon the aircraft) was and was prepared for the ejection, but I decided not to give up unless the fighter was totally out of control.” After 106 seconds, Li was able to glide the fighter to a safe landing. During his service in the Air Force, Li handled another emergency in 1999, when his J-7 jet fighter caught fire at take-off. The award ceremony was held by the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Air Force Command in Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province. Li received the medal from Yang Dongming, Deputy Commander of the PLA’s Air Force, who came especially to the city for the ceremony on behalf of Commander Xu Qiliang. Li is a deputy commander of an aviation regiment in the PLA’s Guangzhou Military Area Command. The First-Class Merit Citation is the second-highest military award can get. The Meritorious Pilot gold medal is the top award that the PLA Air Force grants to its pilots. Only a very small number of outstanding pilots have been awarded those medals since 1991. Li was also given 200,000 yuan (29,411 U.S. dollars) for his courage and composure, which allowed him to save the aircraft worth 200 million yuan. He will share the bonus with other people involved. Those who were in the control tower during the event won Second-Class Merit Citations. The J-10 is the third generation of a single-engine fighter made by China’s largest state-owned aircraft maker, Aviation Industry Corp. of China.

DTN News: J-10 Fighter Jets To Debut At China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition

DTN News: J-10 Fighter Jets To Debut At China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (NSI News Source Info) October 30, 2008: The Seventh China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition will be held from November 4 to 9 in Zhuhai. Top-notch equipment including the orbital module of Shenzhou VII will make its debut at the exhibition, but the biggest attraction this year will be the aerobatic show by J-10 fighter jets, Guangzhou Daily reported. Highlight No. 1: Debut of the orbital module of Shenzhou VIIReporters learnt from the exhibition's organizer that Shenzhou VII's orbital module will make its debut at the exhibition. According to the organizer, this is the premier showing of the main and core parts of the Shenzhou spacecraft and the first time in history that the public will be able to have close contact with the orbital module.

The China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) will also display models of the disposable re-entry module and the Long March II F carrier rocket, showcasing the comprehensive relationship between the carrier rocket system and the spacecraft system.

In addition, the organizer has sent invitations to Shenzhou VII taikonauts Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng, and arrangements for their attendance at the exhibition are being organized. Highlight No. 2: Display of China's missile defense systemMissiles on display at the exhibition include long-distance, high-altitude, low-altitude, surface-to-surface, ship-to-air, ship-to-ship missiles, and the exhibits feature weapons from low to high altitude, comprising China's comprehensive missile defense system.

Highlight No. 3:

J-10 fighter jet aerobatic showThe People's Liberation Army Air Force will participate in the exhibition for the first time and will have a number of advanced planes performing as well as featuring the Air Force Sky Diving Team. The two widely-popular J-10 fighter jets have arrived at the exhibition, and will not only be on display, but will also perform in an aerobatic show.

J-10 (Jian 10) – Vigorous Dragon Multi-Role Tactical Fighter, China

J-10 (Jian 10) – Vigorous Dragon Multi-Role Tactical Fighter, China (NSI News Source Info) August 27, 2008: The J-10 (Jian 10 or Fighter 10) is China's indigenously built multi-role fighter aircraft developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry. Chengdu Aircraft Industry is part of the China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I). In the west the J-10 aircraft is known as the Vigorous Dragon. It is estimated that up to 300 J-10 fighter aircraft will be manufactured. China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes the army, navy, air force and Strategic Rocket Force. The Air Force (AFPLA) has 200 fighter and fighter ground attack squadrons and 120 strike fighter squadrons. "The J-10 (Jian 10 or Fighter 10) is China's indigenously built multi-role fighter aircraft." The J-10 aircraft is considered as a replacement for the J-7 and Q-5. The Air Force currently operates about 250 J-7 (MiG-21) air defence and attack aircraft and about 500 Q-5 attack aircraft. China formally announced the J-10 in February 2007. The existence of the J-10 was first reported in 1994, but the J-10 program was started in 1988 and the first flight of the single seat aircraft took place in 1998. A two-seater variant made its first flight in 2003. There are reports that the J-10 entered service in 2005 and is operational in single seater and two seater versions in at least two PLA Air Force squadrons. It has also been reported that Pakistan will receive the first export versions of the J-10, up to 36 aircraft, by around 2010. China and Pakistan have worked closely on the development of another fighter aircraft, the JF-17 or FC-1 light fighter aircraft. J-10 DESIGN The structure of the aircraft is based on a tail-less delta (triangular planform) wing, foreplanes and a sweptback vertical tail. There are two, fixed, outwardly canted ventral (on the underside of the body) fins near the tail. The size and design of the J-10 are very similar to that of the Israeli Aircraft Industries Lavi fighter aircraft, which itself is similar to and derived technology from the USAF F-16 aircraft. The horizontal close-coupled foreplanes (larger than those on the Lavi) on the forward fuselage improve the take-off and low speed handling characteristics. WEAPONS The J-10 has 11 external hardpoints: five hardpoints on the fuselage with one on the centreline and a pair of hardpoints on each side of the fuselage, and three hardpoints on each wing. The outer wing stations carry air-to-air missiles such as the Chinese built Python 3 PL-8, P-11 or PL-12 or the Russian Vympel R-73 (AA-11 'Archer') or R-77 (AA-12 'Adder). The PL-8 infrared homing short-range air-to-air missile is manufactured in China under a licensed production agreement by the China Academy (formerly the Luoyang Electro-optics Technology Development Centre) and is a variant of the Israeli Python 3 missile. The PL-11 is a licensed-manufactured variant of the MBDA Italy Aspide medium-range air-to-air missile. The PL-12 missile is manufactured in China under a collaborative agreement with Russia. It uses the Russian AA-12 Adder missile technology configured with a Chinese-developed rocket motor to give a range of 50 miles and speed of Mach 4. "In the west the J-10 aircraft is known as the Vigorous Dragon." The aircraft can be armed with laser-guided bombs, the anti-ship YJ-8K or C-801K solid rocket powered missiles, the C-802 land attack and anti-ship turbojet-powered missiles manufactured by CHETA, and the YJ-9 anti-radiation missile. A 23mm cannon is installed internally on the port side of the forward section of the fuselage above the nosewheel. SENSORS The aircraft could be fitted with a forward looking infrared and laser target designator pod. The China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I ) has displayed an exhibition model of the J-10 fitted with targeting pods, which would provide the capability of the J-10 to deploy laser and satellite navigation guided weapons. Possible pulse Doppler radar fits include the Chinese Type 1473 radar, Russian Phazotron Zhuk-10PD or Zhemchug, the Chinese JL-10A, the Israeli IAI Elta EL/M-2023 or the Italian Galileo Avionica Grifo 2000.

The J-10 (Jian 10 or Fighter 10) is China's indigenously built multi-role fighter aircraft. The J-10 has 11 external hardpoints for weapons and fuel tanks – five on the fuselage (one on the centreline and a pair on each side of the fuselage) and three hardpoints on each wing. The J-10 fitted with external fuel tanks and the PL-8 short range air-to-air missile, which is a variant of the Rafael Python 3 missile manufactured under licence in China. The J-10 has a maximum speed of Mach 1.9 and a combat range of 550km. The J-10 is powered by one AL-31FN turbojet engine. The more advanced J-10 Super 10 has AL-31FN engine with thrust-vectoring nozzle.

COCKPIT The single seat fighter aircraft is also being developed in a two-seat variant as a trainer aircraft and as an electronic warfare aircraft. The first flight of the two-seat variant was completed in 2003. The cockpit is fitted with a zero-zero ejection seat. The aircraft has a digital fly-by-wire flight control system and HOTAS Hands-On Throttle And Stick control on which the pilot has every control for combat incorporated into the two handholds. Cockpit displays include a helmet-mounted weapon sight, a wide field of view head-up display and one full-colour and two monochrome liquid crystal multi-function displays. The avionics is served by a 1553B databus. ENGINE The aircraft is powered by the AL-31 turbojet engine supplied by Saturn Lyulka. The prototype aircraft and the first series of production aircraft are fitted with the AL-31FN developing 79kN and 123kN with afterburn, and which is the currently used in the Chinese Air Force Su-27 and Su-30 aircraft. The more highly powered and advanced variant of the J-10, the Super-10, first reported in 2006, is fitted with the AL-31FN M1 supplied by Salyut. The AL-31FN M1 provides 132.5kN and is equipped with full authority digital engine control and a four-way swivelling exhaust nozzle for vectored thrust. "It is estimated that up to 300 J-10 fighter aircraft will be manufactured." The aircraft carries a maximum of 4,950l of fuel internally, comprising 3,180l in the wing tanks and 1,770l in the fuselage tanks. A fixed refuelling probe for in-flight refuelling is installed halfway up the forward port side of the fuselage and just forward of the pilot. Aerial refuelling of the J-10 is from a Xian H-6U tanker aircraft. Additional fuel can be carried in auxiliary tanks on the centreline under the fuselage and on the innermost pair of the three sets of wing hardpoints. LANDING GEAR The aircraft is equipped with tricycle-type landing gear. The nose unit has twin heels and retracts rearwards and the main units retract forward. The aircraft has a drogue parachute for landing.