The appearance on Chinese military webpages of the fifth prototype of the Xian Aircraft Corporation (XAC) Y-20 heavy strategic transport aircraft has prompted suggests that it could enter People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) service as early as this year.

出现在中国军事网页上西安飞机工业公司（XAC）的第五架Y-20重型战略运输机原型，已提示表明它早在今年就可以进入中国人民解放军空军（PLAAF）服役。

Reportedly flown for the first time on 6 February 2016, the fifth prototype carries the bort number 789. It follows soon after the fourth prototype, with bort number 788, which was seen on Chinese web pages on 23 January 2016. Other known prototypes carry identification numbers 781, 783, and 785.

据报道，第一次飞行在2016年2月6日，第五架原型机身上带有789号编号。它在编号788号第四架原型之后不久试飞，这已在2016年1月23日中国的网页上看到。其他已知的原型带有识别编号781，783，和785。

The appearance of the latest Y-20 prototype prompted commentary by Chinese experts. In a 27 January Xinhua article former Chinese test pilot Xu Yongling reported that Chinese aviation industry officials had stated that the Y-20 "completed development" at the end of 2015. Xu, who participated in the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation J-10 fighter test programme, suggested that the Y-20 could enter service in 2016.

最新出现的Y-20原型引出中国专家评论。在1月27日，新华社报道前中国试飞员徐勇凌的文章，中国航空工业官员曾表示，Y-20”开发完成“在2015年底。徐，参加了成都飞机公司的歼-10战斗机的测试计划，提示Y-20可以在2016年进入服役。

 

A fourth Y-20 prototype with bort number 788 appeared in January 2016, when there were also suggestions in the Chinese media that the PLA Navy Air Force might acquire the Y-20. (Chinese Internet)

第四架Y-20原型编号788号出现2016年1月，当时也在中国媒体上提示，中国人民解放军海军航空兵可能获得Y-20。（中文互联网）

In a 26 January article for People's Daily , professor at the PLAAF Command College Chen Hong noted that the payload for the Y-20 was "60 tons": greater than that of the Russian Ilyushin Il-76MD, the current production version of which is credited with a 52-tonne payload by IHS Jane's All the World's Aircraft .

在1月26日人民日报，中国人民解放军空军指挥学院陈红教授指出，Y-20的有效载荷是“60吨”：大于俄罗斯伊尔IL-76MD，IHS简氏全世界飞机称目前的生产版本，具有52吨有效载荷。

 

Chen also noted that the Y-20 could be developed into airborne early warning, electronic warfare/jamming, and tanker variants.

An earlier People's Daily article from 22 January noted that the Y-20 could also eventually equip the PLA Navy Air Force (PLANAF). With the possible addition of the Y-20, the PLANAF could become the leading air service to support and defend China's growing island outposts in the South China Sea.

早期1月22日人民日报文章指出，Y-20也最终装备解放军海军航空兵（PLANAF）。随着运-20可能加入，解放军海军航空兵（PLANAF）将成为重要的空中服务去支援和捍卫中国在南海岛屿前哨的成长。