The Shaanxi Y-9 (Chinese: 运-9; pinyin: Yùn-9) is a medium military transport aircraft produced by Shaanxi Aircraft Company in China.[1][2] It is a stretched and upgraded development of the Shaanxi Y-8F.[3]
| Y-9 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Shaanxi Y-9 landing | |
| Role | Transport aircraft |
| National origin | China |
| Manufacturer | Shaanxi Aircraft Company |
| First flight | November 2010 |
| Introduction | 2012 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | People's Liberation Army Air Force Myanmar Air Force |
| Produced | 2010–present |
| Developed from | Shaanxi Y-8 |
Development edit
Development of the Y-9 may have begun as early as 2002 as the Y-8X program. The program was a collaborative effort with Antonov – the designers of the An-12 that it was ultimately derived from – and was aimed at competing with the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. By September 2005, the Y-9 designation was being used.[4] The Y-9 received design features originally intended for the Y-8F600,[4] which was cancelled in 2008.[5]
Shaanxi had hoped to conduct the first flight as early as 2006, but it was delayed. Design changes were made in 2006,[3] with the design being frozen by January 2010. After the design freeze, it was suggested that the first flight would depend on securing a launch customer; construction had also not yet commenced.[5] The aircraft finally flew in November 2010.[6]
The Y-9 entered People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) service in 2012,[1] with full operating capability being announced in December 2017.[2]
Design edit
The Y-9 is powered by four WoJiang WJ-6C turboprop engines. The propellers are six-bladed and made with Chinese JL-4 composites, and closely resemble the Dowty R406. The WJ-6C is replaced by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150B in the Y-9E export variant.[4]
The cruise speed is 300 knots (560 km/h; 350 mph) with an endurance of around 10.5 hours.[7]
Cargo capacity edit
The Y-9 is designed for 25 tons of cargo but can carry up to 30 tons in overload configuration. The cargo area has a length of 16.2 (53), a width of 3.2 (10), and a height of 2.35 (7.7). The aircraft can fit up to 106 passengers, 132 paratroopers, or 72 stretchers. For vehicles, it can carry two para-droppable ZBD-03 airborne combat vehicles as well as various other military equipment such as light trucks, cargo containers, or pallets.[8]
The cargo bay has an internal volume of 155 m3 and is fitted with cargo handling rollers and tie-down rings. The rear entrance to the cargo bay also functions as a ramp.[1][9]
Some special purpose variants such as the Y-9G (GX-11) have the rear ramp door removed.[10]
Variants edit
- Y-9
- Base variant
- Y-9E
- Export designation of Y-9[6]
- Y-8Q / KQ-200 (GX-6)
- Anti-submarine aircraft[11]
- Y-9JZ (GX-8)
- Electronic intelligence variant[12][13][1]
- Y-9XZ (GX-9)
- Psychological warfare aircraft[14]
- Y-9W / KJ-500 (GX-10)
- Airborne early warning and control variant. Five hour endurance, and fitted with lighter version of KJ-2000 AESA radar.[15]
Y-9W (KJ-500) airborne early warning aircraft - Y-9G (GX-11)
- Electronic warfare (ECM) variant[7]
- Y-9X (GX-12)
- Electronic intelligence (ELINT) aircraft[14]
- Y-9T (GX-13)
- Communications relay variant[16]
- Y-9Q (GX-14)
- New anti-submarine variant[16]
- Y-9 (GX-15)
- Speculated to be a new aerial early warning variant[16]
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Operators edit
- People's Liberation Army Air Force:[1] Over 30 unit Y-9,[17] 4 unit Y-9XZ,[14] 8 unit Y-9W (KJ-500),[14] 4 unit Y-9G,[14] 2 unit Y-9X.[14]
- People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force: 8 unit Y-9Q (KQ-200),[11] 8 unit Y-9JZ (GX-8),[11] 8 unit Y-9W (KJ-500H).[11]
- People's Liberation Army Ground Force: 2[18][19]
- Myanmar Air Force: 1 Y-9E (ordered November 2017)[6]
Specifications (Y-9) edit
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2010-11 [20]
General characteristics
- Crew: 4
- Capacity: 25,000 kg (55,116 lb) cargo / 106 paratroopers / 72 medevac +3 attendants
- Length: 36.065 m (118 ft 4 in)
- Wingspan: 38 m (124 ft 8 in)
- Height: 11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 121.9 m2 (1,312 sq ft)
- Airfoil: root: C-5-18; tip: C-3-14[21]
- Max takeoff weight: 65,000 kg (143,300 lb) (and MLW)
- Fuel capacity: 23,000 kg (50,706 lb)
- Powerplant: 4 × WoJiang WJ-6C turboprop engines [4]
- Propellers: 6-bladed JL-4 composite constant-speed fully-feathering reversible propellers
Performance
- Maximum speed: 660 km/h (410 mph, 360 kn)
- Cruise speed: 560 km/h (350 mph, 300 kn)
- Range: 2,200 km (1,400 mi, 1,200 nmi) with 15,000 kg (33,069 lb) payload
- Ferry range: 5,700 km (3,500 mi, 3,100 nmi) with maximum fuel
- Service ceiling: 10,400 m (34,100 ft)
- Maximum operating altitude: 8,000 m (26,000 ft)
- Power/mass: 0.234 kW/kg (0.142 hp/lb)
See also edit
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Tate, Andrew (9 December 2019). "China mass producing Y-9 surveillance aircraft". Jane's. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ a b Panda, Ankit (6 December 2017). "China's Air Force Declares Shaanxi Y-9 Transport Aircraft Operational". The Diplomat. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ a b Francis, Leithen (27 September 2007). "China to receive first Y-9 military transport in 2009". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (2008). China's Military Modernization: Building for Regional and Global Reach. Greenwood. pp. 180–81. ISBN 978-0-275-99486-0.
- ^ a b Francis, Leithen (29 January 2010). "Shaanxi's Y9 still waiting on Chinese military to commit". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ a b c "New look for an old veteran [AAD18D2]". Jane's. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ a b Tate, Andrew (12 March 2019). "PLAAF operating ECM variant of Y-9 aircraft". Jane's. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ "Shaanxi Y-9". Military Today.
- ^ "China Promotes Export of Y-9E". 23 May 2018.
- ^ "GaoXin GX variant Shaanxi Y-9 (Yun-9)".
- ^ Yeo, Mike (6 October 2014). "Japan intercepts new Chinese GX-8 ELINT aircraft". Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ "Online feature: China's unique special missions aircraft". 31 March 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Rupprecht, Andreas (29 October 2018). Modern Chinese Warplanes: Chinese Air Force - Aircraft and Units. Harpia Publishing. p. 92. ISBN 978-09973092-6-3.
- ^ Fisher, Richard D. Jr (4 September 2015). "China showcases new weapon systems at 3 September parade". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ a b c "Chinese Military Aviation: Surveillance Aircraft II".
- ^ "中国空军也在下饺子 新生产运9一个批次就超过20架|中国|预警机|反潜机_新浪军事_新浪网". mil.news.sina.com.cn.
- ^ Dominguez, Gabriel (20 December 2017). "Second Y-9 transport aircraft enters service with PLAGF, says report". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 26 December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
- ^ Yunpeng, Li; Lina, Chen (20 December 2017). "陆军部队第二架运-9型运输机列装". Ministry of National Defence of the People's Republic of China. Archived from the original on 26 December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
- ^ Jackson, Paul, ed. (2010). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2010-11 (101st ed.). London: Jane's Information Group. pp. 134–135. ISBN 978-0710629166.
- ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.