Photographs reveal Chinese turboprop transport aircraft details

This infographic shows the difference in size of China's new turboprop-powered Y-15 cargo aircraft and the PLA Air Force's in-service Xi'an Y-20B strategic transporter. (Janes)

New photographs of a turboprop-powered transport aircraft in development for China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) have emerged, presenting the platform's external features in greater detail.

China began flight testing the aircraft in late 2025. In contrast to grainy photographs of the aircraft which first appeared on Chinese social media sites in December 2025, recent high-resolution images show that aircraft has side doors and likely air deflector panels to enable paratroopers to deploy from the aircraft.

The new images also reveal that prototype is in operational testing with PLAAF. The aircraft has a low-visibility gray-blue color scheme commonly employed by the PLA's fleet of Shaanxi Y-8 and Y-9 multi-engine transport aircraft.

A PLA Air Force insignia is visible on the tail, indicating that the aircraft has been assigned to a flight testing unit.

A rectangular rubberised skid pad is also visible towards the tail of the aircraft, indicating that the aircraft incorporates a functional tail-ramp arrangement.

The photographs also reinforce the Chinese aircraft's external similarity to the Airbus A400M Atlas. Like the A400M, the Chinese platform also appears to possess ventral vents associated with an environmental control system (ECS). This feature will enable the aircraft to manage airflow, heat exchange and to ensure pressure relief for the main cargo hold.

The new turboprop transport also features winglets, which have not been seen on other PLAAF turboprop aircraft. As previously reported, the aircraft has a high T-tail layout similar in design to the PLAAF's Xi'an Y-20 ‘Kunpeng' turbofan-powered strategic transport aircraft.