Explain this to me:-
The US military, which arguably would have the largest requirement of strategic airlift capacity (seeing as they have, by far, the largest global footprint of any military force on the planet), only has a 180 C-17 and 52 C-5 Strategic transport in service.
Looking at that number, the PLAAF's alleged grand plan to have 1000 of these Y-20 in service seems B.S.
@Martian could you please give me a rough breakup of what a 1000 200-ton transport aircraft will be used for?
I'll make an attempt myself. I'll assume that 200 of these will be employed in various roles such as AWACS, Aerial Tanker, Maritime Surveillance, etc. The remaining 800 will be used to transport? what? where?
That is roughly 200 tanks + 400 IFVs + 52,000 troops. Meaning 2 Armoured Divisions? To Alaska? Or Japan? Or India? Where? Do you really need that if you have a giant amphibious armada?
The only reason they might need a 1000 is if they plan to make an airliner out of this military cargo plane.
And then the article yammers on about a 300, 400 and then a
600 ton aircraft in the works. What would they be used for? Photo ops and special missions only, or will the be inducted in great numbers (~200?) as well?