The campaign to send thousands of medical personnel to Wuhan to deal with the nCoV was the first to operate under the actual conditions of Y-20 transport.

1,200 Chinese military troops arrived in Wuhan on February 17, completing a third round of military reinforcement for the country's corona pneumonia (Covid-19) in the city. The Chinese military has now sent 4,000 medical doctors and medical equipment to Wuhan to fight against the epidemic, most of which is transported by the Y-20's strategic mechanical transport.

The Chinese air force is in service with six Y-20s, three Russian-made Il-76 heavy transport aircraft and two Y-9 aircraft developed from the Soviet An-12. Chinese media confirmed that this was the first time the Y-20 squadron participated in the "demilitarized mission", while Western experts considered it to be the first practical air campaign of the fighter jet. this comb.

"The presence of the Y-20 squadron is remarkable, especially as Beijing has repeatedly promoted them as a significant step forward, allowing the Chinese air force to expand its large-scale airlift capabilities in and outside the territory, "said military expert Tyler Rogoway.

Project Y-20 has been implemented since 2006 under the code name Kunpeng (Chim Bang). The aircraft uses many parts made from composite materials made in China, instead of having to import as before. Research on this material lasted 3 years, starting in March 2009.

The first Y-20 prototype took off on January 26, 2013. China began staffing the Y-20 for the air force in mid-2016 with an estimated 8 aircraft. An aircraft participated in a performance at the Zhuhai air show a few months later, marking the first time the Y-20 series made its public appearance.

The aircraft is 47 m long, span 45 m, hollow volume 100 tons. Y-20 is equipped with four Soloviev D-30KP-2 jet engines, reaching a cruising speed of 920 km / h, range of 4,500 to over 10,000 km depending on the payload.

The cargo load specifications of the aircraft have not been disclosed, but many Chinese sources believe that the Y-20 can carry 66 tons of cargo. Il-76s bought by Beijing from Moscow carried a maximum of 48 tons of cargo, while the Y-9 variant carried 25 tons.

Experts say that the Y-20 still lags behind many of its competitors as the US Air Force's strategic C-17A Globemaster III. "It does not have a high-bypass turbine engine and must use a Russian D-30KP-2 engine with a low air intake ratio. WS-20 domestic engines for aircraft This cannot be put into production before 2024, "said Rogoway.

The air rim is the ratio of the volume of the gas outside the air behind the jet turbine, the higher the number, the better the engine's performance.

It is unclear how many Y-20s China has shipped, but satellite images in December 2019 showed that at least 20 aircraft are being completed at the base in Xi'an City, central part of the country.

"The air campaign to Wuhan gives the Chinese air force the opportunity to carry out large and complex air transport operations in the demilitarized environment, to make up for the lack of actual combat experience of the force. this amount, "said Rogoway.