Since the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, Chinese Yun-20 transport aircraft have repeatedly completed missions abroad, constantly transporting medical supplies to Pakistan, Thailand and other countries. He recently made his first flight to Russia, to deliver the honor guard of the PLA to participate in a military parade on Red Square. According to the PRC, Yun-20 in the future will significantly increase the combat effectiveness of the PLA.
According to the publication China Military, modern war is characterized by the extension of war zones. In this regard, the value of the rapid reaction forces rises sharply., which must be transported over long distances. In this situation, you can not do without heavy transport aircraft, on the performance characteristics of which overall combat effectiveness ultimately depends.
Yun-20 currently has maximum take-off weight 220 tons and maximum load capacity in 66 tonnes. Yun-20 is more than three times faster than high-speed rail and more than 20 times - shipping. He can assemble troops in a single fist as soon as possible.
As military expert Chen Hong explained, the plane has the potential for further development. In his words, Yun-20 is currently equipped with Russian D-30KP-2 engines. However, he expects, that in the future they will be replaced by WS-20 - a new generation of domestic jet power plants, able to provide more than 15 tons of traction (in D-30KP-2 - 12 kgf on takeoff).
