China reveals Y-20B aircraft in MRTT configuration

This infographic, based on a photograph published by China's PLA Daily , shows China's Y-20B in multirole tanker transport (MRTT) configuration. (Janes)

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has published what appears to be its first official photograph of a Xi'an Y-20B strategic transport aircraft equipped with refuelling pods, indicating that the type is entering service with multirole tanker transport (MRTT) capability.

Published in the PLA Daily, the official newspaper of China's armed forces, on 14 October, the photograph shows the rear of a Y-20 at an undisclosed airbase during cargo-loading training. The image shows the aircraft's rear ramp open, with a large palletised load positioned behind it.

The image also shows the aircraft equipped with two hose-and-drogue refuelling pods mounted on underwing hardpoints.

State-owned media, including China National Radio (CNR), described the aircraft as a Y-20B on 19 October.

The photograph follows a China Central Television (CCTV) documentary broadcast in August, which first announced that the Y-20B can “switch between transport and aerial refuelling functions”.

Xi'an's earlier YY-20 tanker, also referred to as the YU-20, was derived from the Y-20 transport aircraft and incorporated what appeared to be a modular fuel tank in its cargo hold to supplement its internal fuel storage. Janes has estimated its total fuel capacity at 83,000–90,200 litres.

However, no auxiliary fuel tanks are visible in the photographed Y-20B's cargo hold, indicating that the aircraft retains space for cargo in this configuration.

Military commentator Fu Qianshao said in remarks carried by CNR on 19 October that the Y-20B can undertake aerial refuelling missions when required.

He claimed that the variant's internal fuel capacity is sufficient to refuel heavy or medium fighters without auxiliary tanks in the cargo hold.