Overview
- Images and short video from December 16 show the four‑engine turboprop taking off from the Xi’an Aircraft Corporation airfield, indicating the start of flight testing.
- The aircraft is widely referred to as the Y‑30 by enthusiasts, while a visible fuselage number “15001” has prompted speculation it could be designated Y‑15, with no official name announced.
- Photos highlight six‑blade propellers, a T‑tail, blended winglets, and tricycle landing gear, with some imagery suggesting a probe above the cockpit consistent with aerial refuelling hardware.
- A developer under AVIC cites a maximum payload of over 20 tonnes, capacity for more than 110 personnel, cruise speed above 600 km/h, full‑payload range over 3,000 km, and maximum flight time exceeding 12 hours.
- Analysts assess a payload class around 25–30 tonnes and a role replacing PLA Y‑8/Y‑9 transports, aligning with concepts first shown publicly in 2014 for an approximately 80‑tonne‑MTOW, C‑130‑class design.