Page 38 - ADT MAY / JULY 2024 Digital Magazine | GBP

the Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter warfare aircraft and a drone carrier. diversified demands from users in
jet stating that the aircraft which The Y-20 is also slated to receive a fields such as marine environment
made its first test flight in 2011 was more powerful indigenously devel- monitoring, resource detection, pas-
continuing to receive upgrades. oped engine which will boost its senger and cargo transportation,
“The J-20 is constantly improving, range and cargo carrying capacity. and more, the developer said.
keeping pace with the times, and
continuously perfecting its mission In July, the Aviation Industry
system to achieve its expected Corporation of China (AVIC) Export Contender
combat objectives,” said Li Gang, announced that its independent-
the test pilot in the J-20’s maiden ly-developed AG600 large It has now been over two years
flight, while speaking on China amphibious aircraft has entered a since the Pakistan Air Force (PAF)
Central Television (CCTV). Chinese new phase of low-rate initial batch inducted its first batch of AVIC
officials have also indicated that production and final assembly. The J-10CE fighter jets. The export of
the J-20 has received upgraded final assembly of the AG600 aircraft these fighter jets can be consid-
engines allowing it to “Super will be carried out by AVIC General ered a major success for Chinese
Cruise”, which means that the Huanan Aircraft Industry Co., Ltd. in combat aviation. The first batch
aircraft can sustain supersonic flight Zhuhai, south China’s Guangdong of six J-10CE fighter jets were
without use of the afterburner. The Province. AVIC has stated that officially inducted into the PAF in
fifth-generation J-20 is being built the AG600 will receive its Type March 2022 at Minhas Airbase
for the People’s Liberation Army Air Certificate from the Central and in Kamra. The J-10CE is the
Force (PLAAF) by Chengdu Aircraft Southern Regional Administration of export variant of the J-10C and is
Industry Group (CAIG) of China. the Civil Aviation Administration of powered by a Chinese WS-10B
China by the end of this year. engine and armed with PL-10E
He also announced that a next short-range missiles and PL-15E
generation warplane was expected Four AG600 prototypes are pres- long-range missiles. These are
to make its debut soon. “As the ently undertaking airworthiness the most powerful Chinese air-
technology of our country’s aviation flight test missions across China. to-air weapons available on the
industry continues to develop, the While ostensibly developed for international market. The PL-15E
next generation will definitely come civilian use, the AG600 bears more is Beyond Visual Range (BVR)
out soon,” CCTV quoted Li, the J-20 than a passing similarity to amphibi- missile and can be used to engage
test pilot, as saying. Global Times ous aircraft developed in Japan and high-value assets such as aerial-re-
quoted Fu Qianshao, a Chinese Russia which are also used for mil- fueling or early-warning aircraft.
military aviation expert, who stated itary purposes. According to AVIC, The J-10CE is also equipped
that the upgrades applied to the the AG600 aircraft family is tailored with precision weapons, in addi-
J-20, including aerodynamic design to carry out rescue missions such tion to an Active Electronically
changes and new engines, as well as firefighting, and maritime search Scanned Array (AESA) radar.
as the avionics, radar systems, and rescue in all types of terrains Designed and manufactured by
software and materials. across China. It also adds that Aviation Industry Corp of China, the
that the aircraft can be fitted with J-10CE is an all-weather, multirole,
fourth-plus-generation fighter jet..
Utility Platforms equipment and facilities to meet

China’s Xian Y-20 large transport
aircraft which was entered ser-
vice in 2016 is now nearing the
10th year mark of operations. The
aircraft has a take-off weight of 200
tonnes and made its maiden flight
in 2013. The aircraft programme
was managed by Xi’an Aircraft
Industrial Corporation and formally
launched in 2006. The Y-20 large
transport aircraft has been further
developed into the YU-20 aerial
tanker, with other potential variants
to be developed including strategic
early warning, command and con-
trol aircraft, long-range electronic

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