The Chinese Air Force launched the Y-20 for the first time on Saturday (as reported by AFP), an event the Chinese government press heralded as “a significant milestone” that would “enhance … global power projection.”
The Y-20 looks a lot like the Boeing-built C-17 used by the U.S. Air Force, but critics say it falls short of the Globemaster III’s performance in a number of respects. Andrei Chang, editor-in-chief of the Canadian-based Kanwa Defense Review, said that the Y-20 was technologically inferior to other military transport planes. True figures for the Y-20’s maximum load and flying range were likely to be lower than those cited in state media due to the plane’s reliance on a “very old” Russian-designed engine.
“(The engine’s) oil consumption is very bad, it wastes a lot of fuel,” he said, pointing out that because of noise some developed countries have banned aircraft using it from landing, threatening its potential appearance at European air shows. (And that reality wouldn’t help it’s foreign military sales effort or international reputation.)
Chang also noted that the C-17’s long-range performance is possible because of the airplane’s composite materials, the manufacture of which the Chinese have struggled with to date. And the Y-20 was likely to take at least another five years to enter operational service, he added.
But the Chinese only want to talk about capabilites. The Y-20 has a maximum payload of 66 tons, which it can carry as far as 2,700 miles, the China Daily said, and with 55 tons on board it could fly from western China to Cairo.
It is big enough to hold the heaviest tank used by China’s army, the paper added, quoting a military expert as saying that “the heavy air freighters will ensure that we are able to safeguard our interests overseas.”
The Y-20 also allows the Chinese to end their dependence on Russian-made Il-76s for their transport needs.
{ 99 comments… read them below or add one }
Good thing our "capitalist" way of designing airplanes is so superior to their stupid old socialist way of designing them. Otherwise it would take us 30 years to come up with a new cargo plane and they'd be popping them out every few years. Well, unless we made the fatal mistake of putting all of our "capitalist" incentives in place such that they encouraged the contractors to drag out the design, then it might take us 30 years or more. I mean, hell, capitalism works either way, right? Of course, we'd never be so stupid as to pay a "for profit" company more to screw us, would we? We'd never be so stupid as to put all of the risk for a new airplane design on the US taxpayer and pay a defense contractor more to screw the US taxpayer than we pay them if they come in with a good, working design on time and on budget. No, we'd never be that stupid.
Loving the negativity that persists on this site, where's the educated constructive criticism, sick garbage like what this guy just posted.
Oh, so sorry. Was I off script? I meant to say, "they suck". "All they can do is copy us and their version of the C-17 doesn't even have winglets." "Boo hiss!" "We're #1, baby." There, all our problems are fixed. No need to worry your little head over the Chinese now, is there?
No… it's just your nonsensical rant on the capitalist system somehow being responsible for a design and approval process controlled entirely by the government is somewhat laughable, and shows a fundamental lack of understanding. A free market economy has no oversight, that's the job of the elected government. The fact that they're incompetent has nothing to do with the merits of capitalism vs. communism as a base system.
The issue is that procurement systems don't freeze a design before procurement. Sadly, it may be time to find auto industry people to work in procurement.
Are our military programs boutique Bugatti, Koenigsegg, Bentley and Rolls-Royces that we get a handful of each year? Or are they Toyotas with incremental improvements that allow a large cost-effective and reasonably technologically sophisticated force?
For perspective, the M1 was born of a failed attempt to mate too much whizbang and do it with international collaborators. After MBT-70 collapsed we got a better product that was simpler but perhaps no less dangerous.
That said, with today's procurement system we would've thrown money at DIVAD until it worked, but how much money would it have taken?
Dfens if your going to write garbage like what you did above…… at least be funny and clever about it. We can at least respect humor even if we disagree with your views but you didn't even do that!
one of the primary tells is the compulsion to put capitalist and for-profit in quotations for emphasis. The stupid old socialist way? What would that be? Hah! The contemporary Chinese way of successfully obtaining pieces of key information/technology by hook or by crook, and demonstrating capability of innovation through imitation, at cost (i.e. engines, etc.).
I think he's just blaming capitalism for our faulty system that produces moderately performing products at high prices while the Chinese system merely copies/modifies them for cheap replicas.
The Chinese system is capitalist too; however, they just don't have respect for property rights and lack innovation, which are both results of their communist roots. Their problem is different from our system, which results in swindling the customer and is full of innovative ways to do it over and over. I think Dfens' point was a little off, but he does not ignore that there is a major problem with our system. The Chinese have a problem that is more preferable and still makes products that do their jobs, where as we are starting to make products that cost a fortune and don't do what that they are required to do or do it with major flaws that cannot be ignored. (LCS, F-35A-B-C, F-22).
It is a good question to ask why not many other countries want to buy our new products. Lockheed pretty much promised that the F-35 was going to be cheap to get our allies to sign off on it and now many of them are cutting orders, buying Super Hornets, or restarting their fighter programs to look elsewhere. Absolutely no one else is interested in the LCS. Not many other countries want the V-22. The military products we have that are selling well are products of the Cold War Era. Why don't other countries want to buy new American weaponry?
There aren't many different ways to build a military cargo plan. Their function determines their form. To say that this is a rip off of this or that is just amateur talking. But then again, that's 99% of the world population for any specific field.
That said, the Y-20 is definitely testing with a quad of very old engines, the one used on IL-76. But that will change … eventually, just like the YF-22 did not take its maiden flight with a pair of F-119 either.
BO: one would suspect you would be hard-pressed to demonstrate that the C-17 is a "moderately performing product". If you meant the statement to be a broad-brush, well…..ok, but. The US has its share of acquisition/procurement/production issues to be sure, but line the equipment up with that from ROW and see how it all shakes out (in the aggregate).
If the Chinese, copying our designs poorly for many years after we developed our systems, is an example of how communism is superior and how capitalism is inferior, you are strangely and horribly wrong. Do you suppose people working on things for free is the way to come up with great inventions, then go for it and produce some yourself. I will contently sit back and watch you starve as you put out pathetic products that no one will be interested in. When was the last time you built a C-17 for free anyway?
The military/industrial complex is not capitalism. Please don't tarnish capitalism with anything that has to do with "government".
What… You mean that Boeing hasn't put factories in China like the rest of the US companies to build their commercial and military aircraft????? If it looks like a C17 then……..
the F-35 began in the eighties and it still not the replacement for the F-16. I may be that we never stop inventing interferes with get Er Done The Chinese are not innovators
They are renovators and they use what they got .The military defense industry took a huge hit in the nineties and It will likely take another in the next few months only then will we see a reduction in Government supported industries in the U.S All the While the U.S loses jobs and talent from shuttered military industrial industries.
New aircraft lead technology, that is why Brazil and China develop there own home Aviation industries .
What part of 'go fuck yourself' don't you understand, you smart-ass maggot?
come on, no need to get nasty.
this is a forum; differences in opinion are to be expected.
just present your arguments.
I too thought, "why is this guy attacking capitalism?" <shakes head>
Wing box completely different, fuselage more slender and it uses low bypass turbofans. But call it what you want.
"The Y-20 looks a lot like the Boeing-built C-17"
it also looks a lot like the Airbus a400 (without the props). what do you expect from a military cargo plane?
Good first step to being able to participate internationally in roles. It's small scale but it's something. It won't compete with Western capabilities but maybe now we can bring them into the fold of operations at some capacity.
Like what? Its the chinese they are the ones who arm all our enemies either directly or indirectly.
Wrong. It seems that you are the ones arming your own enemies. Remember Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan?
It's a start, but they are nowhere near the Level of the USAF. They don't have anything near the C-5M or the C-17
Yes that is it US rules the cargo plane scene thats probably why you need to transport something you hire a Russian or Ukrainian cargo plane operator ,most likely Antonov design buro that operates their own fleet of An124 and An225 and in spare time freelance designing planes for the chinese.
These guys know more about cargo plane design that anyone in the world.Why would anyone bother with C17 clone if they can get a better new design for less money? Cargo planes all look the same as form follows funcion.
It's why why what the chinese have is a clone of the C-17 and a A-400M
"The Y-20 looks a lot like the Boeing-built C-17" Except it's missing the C-17's cute winglets.
There's no way that the Chinese copied the C-17, you don't think that they would have missed something as important as the winglets.
As far as its known Antonov design buro codesigned the plane ,no need for anything form C17 ,just a bag of cash and ukrainians design you the plane you wan't.
BIG YAWN… So what? China's coped everything the USA Russia and Western Europe makes. No news here im waiting more on there J-31 a F-35 copy.
If China makes there own weapons with there own designs that be headlines.
DF series missiles comes to my mind and their new assault rifles. Radars etc…
But have you notice, the fact that the Chinese are doing a version of the C-141A Starlifter
The Russian Il-76 came out in 1971, had 4 engines, high wing, T-tail, the same configuration as the C-17, which came 20 years later. By that account, C-17 itself is also a clone.
If you look at a comparison between Il-76, C-17, and Y-20, I'll say it bear more resemblance ti Il-76 than with C-17.
http://www.centurychina.com/plaboard/uploads/Y20_…
With all due respect, please know something about aviation history, engineering, or do some basic research before you dismissing those Chinese engineers.
Well actucally.
The C-141 had the same basic design and was introduced in 1968 and the predecessor to the C-17 was the YC-15 which was even more along the lines which first flew in 1975 so….in reality form may follow function but only a fool ignores the advances made by his adversaries when he can steal them for himself.
The C-141 came out in the early-mid 1960s, had 4 engines, high wing, T-tail, the same configuration as the Il-76, which came out 6-10 years later. By that account, the Il-76 itself is also a clone.
Hey just because they blatantly copied our bombers, fighters, and other things for years doesnt mean they didnt just happen to do it! It was natural.
Like i said before why spend the billions on R&D when you can just use what the US pays for and steal it. Most of the planet does that.
The C-141A and the C-5A both were operational before the IL-76. But if the United States keeps screwing around like they did with the irreplaceable space shuttle that should never have been mothballed, we might find ourselves sucking wind.
I don't normally type any internet comments anymore, I just consume a heap of information without saying anything… but it's obvious from all the articles on numerous sites about China's military modernization that there's very little true understanding about why it's happening, or in what form, or to what ends. So let me briefly illustrate. Why not spit out a little blurb on some obscure little comment page, right…
Ok… I'll try to stick to brass tacks and keep it simple…
You are all living in an era of exponential scientific, civic and global advancement and change. What this means is that two people living at just about any time apart sometime during the middle ages, anywhere in the world, let's say 3 centuries apart between 1000AD and 1300AD, lived in just about the same exact world, whereas today our world is fundamentally different in many important ways than it was just 3 DECADES ago. This is because since the industrial revolution we have been riding an increasingly steeper exponential curve (which has progressed to a particularly steep slope along that curve since the advent of computers) of humanity's overall development, everywhere.
China was largely an agrarian society with only limited industrial capabilities well into the 20th century.
The whole of the world, including China (and actually only excluding large parts of Africa, regions of South America and a few geographically minor countries in Asia and Eurasia- some former soviet bloc countries), has inescapably been swept up in this global wave of advancement we see in modern times. Through the inevitable spread and democratization of technology and information which seems to follow almost as much by human and civic demand as it does by simple physical laws of diffusion, Chinese people, just a few decades still living mostly in farms and large, underdeveloped cities with only a few modern ammenities, are today driving Audis, browsing on their iphones and commuting to work in high speed magnetic bullet trains, by the tens (and soon hundreds) of millions.
Their military development, being subject to the same sweeping historical forces that is gradually but surely taking everyone on the planet along with it, to wherever it may lead, is no exception. They're getting modern phones, cars, banking systems and even their own space program, etc, like many nations before them and around them, so OF COURSE their military and all branches in it will follow suit. No surprise there.
And equally obvious is their quick rate of Military development, since being human, the Chinese have large capable brains just like any other race on the planet, and only a moron tries to reinvent the wheel when others are racing past him in carbon fiber formula ones. He observes and copies, and thereby shortcuts untold time and resources in having to build one from scratch. These are basic laws of physics and laws about the spread of information at work here. No surprise there either.
And so, WHY are they doing it, to take over the world? To one day soon wage war with their neighbors and with America, to start WW3? Sure, they have their own political and economic machinations, no doubt, they're still fixated on Taiwan, they're bent on profiting from development contracts in resource-rich Africa and the Middle East, and in internal infrastructure projects to no end in order to jumpstart themselves into the urban, energy-hungry 21st century, but that's to be expected from a prominent superpower. But the answer is no, they're not, because they know they can't. There's no benefit or profit for the Chinese in starting wars they can't win against the rest of the highly modernized and ultra-militarized world.
They're doing it for the same reason any other country does it, for the endgame of what the modern world is most driven toward: money. Money represents everything in today's world: power, influence, real estate, technology, strength, health, opportunity… everything. There is hardly a thing in the world, existent or currently non-existent, that enough money CANT get you. We know this, and so do they. All the military is just to rise up to the level of a full fledged economic player in a highly competitive capitalistic global environment, which cannot be achieved without a little muscle to flex your wallet around.
China has all the power to do what it wants.
Much of the world in debt to it.
Fewer enemies then us.
More of its own people living across planet then any other country.
Business with more countries then us because we sanction so many.
The least culture-mixed country, which in my opinion is, its strongest value because in a divided society(as all currently are) they have the least divided.
They also seem to just be modernizing now, whereas we wasted hundreds of billions experimenting with everything for decades.
That all said, they have not made any of their plans clear. I do not see why we haven't questioned their government directly about any of this.
Well here is your problem. Logic make no sense when compared to human behaviors. Human are higher animals. Still animals and the lust to dominate and grasp more power is natural.
China yes is capitalist but only to a point. The vast majority of all wealth in china is contributed to around 100 families. Its this way in most of the world. In a well functioning society that changes. However, however most dont function, those families control the access to said wealth. This leads to the wonderful world we have today. Africa's first female billionaire…..he father runs her country…amazing right.
Logic says the chinese wouldn't clear the sea's with fishing trawlers taking no measures to save their stocks. Logic says they would just share the sea of china and elsewhere with their neighbors and enforce this sharing. But they arent they push and prod and demand the world obey because thats how those same families have run the country for a long, long time.
That might would let them dominate every power in the region except The US, India, RoK, and Japan.
So what happens when someone forgets that wars can be horrible things? Or we regress to a weak nation like the ones in europe unable to even patrol our own shores? And if they bring Pakistan, and others? Norks into the fight?
You're no longer living in Medieval times, there are no barons and kings fighting religious and economic wars to gain land and gold. That's yesterdays game. Today's game revolves around derivatives trading, oil and natural gas pipelines, satellite deployment, mining contracts in third world countries too poor or backwards to refine if for themselves, and big bristling warships and impressive squadrons of shiny jets that politicians on all sides can use as bargaining chips in their endless but ultimately necessary game-theory-revolving strategies and plans to gain even more resources, to build even more factories and satellites and warships, in order to have even more bargaining chips for…. ad nauseum. You get the picture.
Oh, yeah, I almost forgot, the actual warfare aspect…
Its simple math, people. And in global modern warfare the little numbers and details simply do not matter. What is China's manufacturing capability? practically endless. So what if their version of our impeccably designed transport carrier can only carry 60 tons and fly 2000 miles, whereas, ooh, one of ours can carry 80 tons and fly 3000 miles (or whatever the exact numbers are). D-o-e-s n-o-t m-a-t-t-e-r. So, according to the math, they have to build 3 transport planes each with 2 more engines to do the job that 2 of ours can do with a little less fuel. In the global economy where each side has the means to build hundreds and even thousands of every distinct war machine they design, resulting in hundreds of thousands of all sorts of units, building a few more to get the same job done is a negligible concern. Its the capability that matters, and they have it, because we have it, and they live in the same highly transparent world, and they're not stupid and they want it, so whatever we have they also will soon acquire.
Consider China modernized, and consider them an equal player to the US, the European Union and the other BRIC nations on the world economic stage.
THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS. The little details of whose plane is bigger and more powerful is UTTERLY IRRELEVANT.
Sigh… I almost feel as if I wrote all that to a deaf wall, since it wont make any difference. The same suspicion and ignorance will persist in article after article, blog after blog, one comment page after another. Oh well, such is the modern age…
Thanks for all that, Brainless Human. It's refreshing to have an objective adult around here.
The wall is not completely deaf. Your was a well written response!
Most of the posts here are driven by fear.
We see that for all the money we spend we are getting fewer and fewer aircraft, ships and weapons platforms.
China does not yet seem to have the issue of entrenched political contractors….
Due to our and China's tax and import export policies more and more US companies are opening up factories there while laying off people here (see Caterpillar).
And Tiawan and Japan are really close to them and really far from us.
To top all of this off, they are not even close to being a real Republic/Democracy. It was not so long ago they were running people over with tanks…..
While I appreciate your attempt to put this one issue into greater historical and cultural context, to compare them to the European Union is a bit off.
You ask why they would start WW3. Well why did WW2 start? Anger at perceived historical injustices…
Things can spiral out of control really fast over there and bring us into a mess we want no part of….
That's why people flip out over stuff like this.
And so called democratic countries never, ever killed an unarmed civilian?
Anger at perceived historical injustices will push China to start WW3? How many world wars did China started anyway? If things did go out of control, US will be a part of it, guaranteed. Always wanted to be the hero, the savior of the world.
Money, resources, energry demands "may" start WWIII. Unfortunately WWIII will probably be started by historical injustices and social misperceptions (with all of our technology, having lived in North America and Europe it amazes me how little we understand of each other). Just knowing another's language does not allow you to appreciate why/how another culture thinks. As you indicate BH, one country (one person) wants what ever other countries (other person) have (be it C-17s, etc). That is only natural.
Awesome diatribe. Thanks for the attempt to try and educate. But yeah, you may as well bash your head against a wall. The US's biggest threat is it's own government at this point in history. The Federal Reserve with Congresses slavish help is destroying the Greenback. In the last year alone the Chinese have signed agreements with Russia, Japan, Pakistan, India, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Iran, Germany and God knows who else to trade without using the US Dollar. At the same time the Chinese are dumping the 3 Trillion Dollar mountain of Greenbacks they have by buying Gold in 100 Ton lots as fast as they can. This was all preceded by the Chinese demanding that all future debt contracts with the US be drawn up in Renminbi (Yuan). Apparently the Federal Reserve can't print Yuan, yet?!? The fact of the matter is that the US invaded Iraq after Saddam Insane said he would only except Euros for his oil. Then the US invaded Libya after the Colonel said he wanted Gold for his oil. The Chinese are modernizing their military as fast as they can for defensive purposes. But they may be out of time. The Dollar is actively being destroyed. With Trillions owed to them that will only be paid back in worthless deflated paper, WAR is heavy on the horizon.
Well said and written. Thank you for writing this. It proves intelligence does exist.
Thats simple,Clinton gave them our computer tech. info when he was in office.
Try cruise missiles, and nuclear weapons
W-88 was allegedly stolen, or stolen by a Taiwanese engineer, either working for Taiwan or the PRC. Oh Wen-Ho Lee, why did you do it?
And Loralgate was Loral being stupid…
clinton only pay personal debt financial support from china to become president of usa with computer, hilary clinton personal revenge only because blame her husband had sold the computer to china, it had been the reason why the clinton pushed firmly to the philipine, vietnam japan (former enemy) dared to claim the island belongs to china, for goal hold up the progress and success of china so advanced industrial countries, so Americans want bully china, making the danger of war in the serene and peaceful asia before, philipine, vietnam and japan in the American made tools for bully china, american need political plan to divide asia country united , so that the asian nation can not advance not united and always under the control of the american skin white
What?!?!?!
Whatever Clinton did pales drastically when compared to the antics of George W Bush's administration. Go and read Pat Buchanan's many editorials from 2002-2008 regarding Bush policy to China – it makes Clinton look like a choir boy:
- Trillions of dollars of debt (to a communist dictatorship! – Reagan must be rolling over in his grave) after inheriting an $800B annual surplus.
- The migration of millions of high-paying jobs, the manufacturing base, and the tax base with it.
- The horrifying give-away of many thousands of dual-use technologies and manufacturing techniques, now fueling China's massive military build up
- All this, while/after being warned about the highly negative experience of the Russians doing business with the Chinese.
And as if that wasn't enough – after we suffered the worst foreign policy disaster in US history resulting from the invasion of Iraq (let alone borrowing the money form China), the 400+ dead, the 40k+ wounded (not counting 100's of thousand Iraqis): China got all the big oil deals from what was supposed to be a "grateful" Iraqi nation.
You'll have to try again.
And in Reagan's time we commenced the Great Borrowing from Japan, the world's banker before the People's Republic.
As for points three and four…yup. For point three, nobody told Stanley to make screwdrivers in China. Start with the small stuff, next thing you know everything else is made in the PRC.
Why not just buy commercially available CFM 56 engines? The most reliable and best selling turbofan engine in the world, no one would stop them and they have modern and efficient engines, buy spares if required and you could always get them from there fleet of 737s, A320s, etc…
Actually, because of defense contracts (within a country or, as in Europe, the EEC) export rules would prevent export of "critical" defense technology. Not sure if the CFM 56 engine you write of would qualify in that respect, but things such as aircraft defensive systems would.
True but they probably could get the engines and thus enhance the range/payload… the most critical elements of a mobility aircraft…
The Chinese have the money now to buy the services of Russian aircraft designers as well as others to help in the developement of military projects. Despite what short comings the aircraft has as compared to western designs, I am sure the plane will meet the needs of the PLA air force just fine.
Thing is, what are we doing to update current designs and develop new ones?
It suprise me to see DT's comment on the Y-20 "The Y-20 looks a lot like the Boeing-built C-17". If anything it looks more like Il-76 and to call it a clone? DT do some research before commenting on the Y-20. The plane was developed with Ukrainian Antonov Aeronautical Scientific/Technical Complex, the major research and development institute has provided much needed assistance in the development of Y-20 transport.
Money makes the world go around and I can see U.S. dollar signs all over the development and production of this airplane. It is important to know that American business ventures in China made this possible while receiving tax breaks. You cannot be an American if you give aide and comfort to a country that supports Communism. What makes Business such an important part of the sales pitch to end the recession when it is only lining its pockets and hiding money at the average taxpayers expense?
Friend of Col. David Hackworth
If we ended all trade with China today, we would stem a $300 billion loss to our economy. $300 billion would buy a lot of jobs right here in the US of A, and it wouldn't involve borrowing. It is $300 billion our economy is hemorrhaging right now.
Prices of product would go up, but on the back end of those prices are American jobs.
Maybe our capitalist overlords will use prison labor to bring prices down?
http://www.unicor.gov/
Chinese Y20 is an improvement of II-76, why? Because the Chinese are using Russian equipment and it is natural for them to copy the equipment they are using. American has ban all advance technology to China for 30 years and they cannot get any sample of these advance products. How can they copy from America stock & barrel? Copy from Russian, yes but copy from America, no.
It seems that every man with a moustache along the street looks like your own father if your father has a moustache.
Likewise, every aircraft look similar is a C-17 clone to you. But, you have not seen what type of technology used by the Chinese inside the airplane. Be rational.
"They hacked into Facebook twice and got a host of secrets from 27 of our fortune 500 co".
Keeping secrets on Facebook? I think I see the problem….
Regards & all,
Thomas L. Nielsen
Luxembourg
Hah, Facebook.
The Chinese can license what they want,this monster is pretty much an albatross,it might be a fine plane,but believe me its a sitting duck.I would imagine they have other uses in mind for this aircraft other then the obivious military uses-KMCCUNE
The Chinese do license a good deal – but then they routinely violate the terms of their license contracts, steal the technology(ies), manufacturing their own variants, and sell them as their own (they've been doing this to the Russians for decades).
Eventually, they will learn to make competent jet engines: they have the money, and the Chinese are in the game for the long run.
you people sound like those from Cupertino the fruit company, it's as if you own a patent on all cargo plane designs, get a grip, every other one looks similar that's basic aerodynamic principle at work…. dah
Fom one who worked on the flightline for 21 years in the Air Force loading and unloading Cargo Aircraft you could not be more wrong. You do not have a clue wht your talking about. Every Cargo AIrcraft has different capabilites from the C130, C141, C17, KC10, etc. They are all not the same. You could not land a C5B on a short runway like you can a C130 which as 6 Pallet Positons.
http://www.strategycenter.net/imgLib/20071206_13a…
They not only copied it, the Chinese had some inside information. China, however, still has a problem with their engine technology.
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/LegalCenter/story?id=427…
They are into making space launches and I don't think that engine prob will baffle them for long..they steal our experience and knowledge and can get there fast. Besides they have the own GE plant…
don't you mean Russian engine tech? China, not really know for inovation.
Ward, you rebel!
Wait, maybe you don't know: http://www.its-not-its.info/
You retards just don't get it… while you guys are comparing the size of your penis heads, your federal tax refunds will be delayed because of, wait, payments that are due to China, and of course, social security payment recipients…. but don't forget, we are building $200 million dollar F-35's that can what??? Make money dissapear from any radar… wake up, not only are we screwed, but our kids too…. thanks congress…
China needs these Cargo Planes to fly more manufactured Products back to the US from all the jobs we sent overseas.
Like Donald Sutherland said " very pretty Col., but can they fight"
It's developed mass troop movement capabilities…Red Dawn will be in 3D…like a pimp and his money…. Hence, where's ma money Female dog! You get my drift?
again… more like An-based, then C-17.
Never surprises me that some are so narrow minded to not see reality. Why would ghe chinese have to develop a new cargo plane when they can walk onto any airport in china and copy any of their bought airliners. They have one of the most modern uptodate fleets anywhere in the world.
And how many of those airliners can carry a 60+ ton tank?
I do love the design of the Il-76
Just how many of you have actually been to china and spent any time there; I have and lived there; They can buy anything they want from the world; As one mentioned, large engines are not a problem; They have one of the most up to date fleets of Commercial Airliners and Cargo Planes that I have ever flown on in the world. They can buy any engines they need; One must be stupid or have one's head in the sand if they think that china is a real threat to the world "military"; Why would they want to destroy their own countries growth with such a stupid move; The only threat they are in the world is that they are buying everything away from the rest of the world to feed their people's growing demand for goodies. One just needs to walk down the street in any major city; go into any department store and see the world of goods being sold to the "Poor" Chinese. I was shocked when I was there as they are actually doing more for their people in the way of everything than the US. Their parks are everywhere; green zones; goods; They have one way of doing things that is very impressive; The prices of local produced goods are lower than the cost of imported goods; Driving the local economic growth of the country; Not like ours driving all our work overseas; Try buying a US made car in China; A lot higher as any local made car; So the (Non- Rich) will only buy the local make item. One problem that is major in china is the youth; they do not want to no longer be told what to do by the communists; they also do not want to now work the farms and live out of the big cities; Many villages are nearly empty of youth; they are all in the big cities enjoying the good life; The internet is also everywhere; Goverment; while trying; no longer has the foot on the neck of the majority; Well worth a trip; not to SHanghai or Beijing; but internal large Cities where the chinese are not as influenced by the western tourists; ie. Chongqing (small city) population of county & City about 30 million.
Why not, obama sold or gave them the plans to build it. Next thing you know they will roll out their version of a long range "stealth" bomber based on the B-2
Their spies are all up in our military network. I'm sure they'll soon be able to copy everything we have and make their own version (remember the russians during the cold war?)
Hell, we are so far in debt to the PRC I wouldn't be surprised if they don't make a offer to buy our entire military and a place to put it…..
Chesty Puller once met Chiang Kai Chek, and told him that it didn't matter where on the Chinese mainland an invasion force landed…only that the forces should concentrate, and drive for the enemy. The one piece of advice he gave the Generalissimo was to be sure to "put to death every Communist bastard he meets". As long as America holds that maxim in mind, it won't matter how many transport aircraft China has, regardless of quality. Semper Fi.
Well probably not the greatest airplane by any stretch, but I would say that most of China’s world interests are in undeveloped third world countries that still operate DC3s if they operate anything at all.
I am surprised they just didn’t buy a C17 and reverse engineer/copy it and then deny they reverse engineered/copied it. The biggest problem, if you want to call it that is the Chinese are very good at copying things, stealing intellectual info and just outright buying decades of advance research by purchasing every tech company that comes on the market.