China expands Y-20B transport aircraft fleet

A People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Xi'an Y-20B transport aircraft at the Shenyang Taoxian International Airport on 22 April 2026, after conducting the variant's first international flight. (Photo by Chen Hongbo/VCG via Getty Images)

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has expanded its fleet of Xi'an Y-20B ‘Kunpeng' transport aircraft, according to video footage aired by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) on 30 June.

The footage, released to commemorate the platform's decade-long service in the PLAAF, showed 10 Y-20Bs participating in an ‘elephant walk' at Kaifeng Air Base in central China. This is up from five Y-20B aircraft observed in satellite imagery of Kaifeng in November 2024. The PLAAF formally unveiled three Y-20Bs in September 2025.

The Y-20B differs from the earlier Y-20A variant primarily through its use of the domestically developed high-bypass-ratio WS-20 engine. By comparison, the Y-20A is powered by Russian-origin D-30KP Series II turbofan engines, each rated at 117.7 kN.

Developed by the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC), the WS-20 is rated at 127.5 kN of thrust.

Although AVIC's footage obscured most serial numbers, Y-20B serial number 20342 was briefly visible. The aircraft was assigned to the PLAAF's 13th Transport Division's 37th Air Regiment, at Kaifeng.

Capabilities

The AVIC footage also provides the first view of the WS-20's front fan. The engine features 32 narrow-chord, high-aspect-ratio fan blades connected by snubbers. The WS-20 is likely the military derivative of AECC's AEF1200 high-bypass turbofan engine, which has a similar design.

AECC displayed a full-scale AEF1200 model at Airshow China 2024. The engine also featured 32 fan blades.

China detailed the Y-20B's payload capabilities in a video posted on 28 June.

According to China Military Bugle