Future Military Transport Aircraft Programme

March 2007, the Chinese government officially approved the long waited plan to develop the country’s own large passenger jets.

The State Council also gave go-ahead to set up a company in charge of the design, development and construction of the aircraft. In a statement issued by the State Council, the Chinese government stated: “Our country has been developing the aviation industry for 50 years, and already has the technical and material base to develop large aircraft."

Although the statement gave no details on investment figures or when or where the aircraft might be made, it is understood that China’s two state-owned aircraft makers, AVIC I and AVIC II, as well as the Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defence (COSTIND), would all be involved in developing the jets. Both AVIC I and AVIC II are currently making components for Airbus and Boeing and also posses experience in civilian aircraft development and manufacturing.

On 4 April 2007, Hong- Kong-based newspaper Wenweipo disclosed that China’s future large transport jets will include both civil passenger and military transport variants. The civil passenger jet will be assembled in Shanghai, while the military transport variant will be assembled at Xi’an Aircraft Corporation (XAC) in Shaanxi Province.

A photo of a transport aircraft model, which has been speculating on Chinese Internet since January 2007, was said to be the AVIC I’s concept of the future military transport aircraft. The model in the photo revealed a turbofan-powered four-engine transport aircraft similar in size to the U.S. C-17 Globemaster III. The aircraft is expected to enter service by 2020.

Source : sinodefence.com

(http://www.sinodefence.com)

The AVIC I concept of a turbofan-powered four-engine military transport aircraft similar in size to the U.S. C-17 Globemaster III

Photo : The model of AVIC I's concept of future large military transport (Source: Chinese Internet)



(4.09.2007)