![]() The PLA is developing its WS-20 high-bypass turbofan for the Y-20 family, although the engine is not expected to enter production before 2024. However, the four-engine Y-20 is still powered by Russian turbofan engines. "As the Y-20 oil tanker variant is an indigenous aircraft, it means China's refuelling abilities can be fully guaranteed and no longer reliant on other countries." "Oil tankers are important to refuel fighters and bombers during an attack mission, or can serve as the fuel backup for even longer operations into the Western Pacific," Song said. The ADIZ is not the same as Taiwan's territorial air space but a self-declared space that is monitored for security purposes. The H-6 bombers and six of the fighter jets flew south of Taiwan into the Bashi Channel separating Taiwan from the Philippines before steering out into the Pacific and returning to the mainland, according to a map provided by the Taiwanese defence ministry.īeijing has been sending patrols into the island's ADIZ on almost a daily basis since late September last year. The Y-20 aerial refuelling aircraft was sent with 26 military planes - 18 fighter jets, five nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, two KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft and a Y-9 transport aircraft - into Taiwan's air-defence identification zone (ADIZ), prompting Taipei to scramble fighter jets and deploy missile systems for monitoring. It often indicates a user profile.Īn oil tanker aircraft joined mainland China's air patrol near Taiwan for the first time on Sunday, according to the island's defence ministry, a move an analyst said was to show the PLA's boosted attack ability. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. ![]()
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