A scale model of a medium transport aircraft equipped with four turboprop engines is on display for the first time at the exhibiting area of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China at the Airshow China 2014 in Zhuhai, South China’s Guangdong Province. Photo: Screenshot from people.cn

Images and footage that started to circulate online showing what was claimed to be China’s new medium transport aircraft in a flight test on Tuesday have attracted attention from foreign media outlets. A Chinese expert said that China could use such a new aircraft to replace its current Y-9 series medium transport aircraft and complement the country’s large transport aircraft, the Y-20.

The War Zone, a US media outlet specialized on defense, claimed on Tuesday that the latest Chinese military aircraft to appear in flight test is a tactical transport aircraft, known, unofficially for now, as the Y-30, with the alternative Y-15 designation also been proposed.

Citing unverified flight footages, Belgium-based defense media outlet Army Recognition claimed on Tuesday that China’s Y-30 medium military transport aircraft appears to have conducted its first flight on Tuesday. The report speculated that the new aircraft could fill the gap between the Y-9 medium transport and the Y-20 strategic airlifter thanks to a planned payload capacity of around 30 tons and a four-turboprop configuration.

Also citing images that have started to circulate online on Tuesday, Italy-based specialist media outlet the Aviationist speculated that the new aircraft could has a payload class around 25-30 tons, slightly exceeding that of the Y-8 and Y-9 series currently in service with the Chinese military – both of which offer cargo capacities in the 15-20-ton range.

The Chinese military, the Chinese aviation industry or official media have not made any announcements about the alleged test flight as of press time. However, it is long known by the public that China has been developing a new type of medium transport aircraft.

At the Airshow China 2014 held in Zhuhai, South China’s Guangdong Province, a scale model of a medium transport aircraft equipped with four turboprop engines was displayed for the first time at the exhibiting area of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, people.cn reported on November 14, 2014. The model was labeled “Y-30” and “new-type medium transport aircraft,” according to the report.

Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of the Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Wednesday that China’s current medium transport aircraft, the Y-9 series, has a large capacity gap with China’s large transport aircraft, the Y-20. That is likely why a new medium transport aircraft, with larger cargo capacity, flight speed and cabin size, is needed to pair up with the Y-20.

From a technological point of view, to develop such a new medium transport aircraft should not pose significant challenges to the Chinese aviation industry, Wang said, noting that a new medium transport aircraft could also be further modified into special-mission aircraft, such as anti-submarine patrol aircraft, early warning aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft and electronic warfare aircraft.