Deployment of the YU-20 Aerial Tanker and images of it tanking up a J-20 and J-16 means the longer range for Chinese fighters. China can now keep its fighters in the air longer and extend its reach to American bases in the western Pacific from a greater distance.
The PLAAF will benefit from this air-to-air refueling tanker version of China's home-grown YU-20 strategic airlift cargo plane.
China Capable of Airborne Refueling
The photo was disclosed at a press conference hosted by the PLAAF in Changchun City, Jilin Province, north-east China, which hosts an air show from August 26 to 30, noted CGTN.
The tanker plane will make its public debut at that time, according to PLAAF spokesperson Shen Jinke. Compared to the three previous tankers from the 1990s, the new one has the most capacity for tanking up in mid-air, reported EurAsian Times.
The YU-20's predecessors include the HU-6 (H-6 bomber), Ilyushin II-76, and Shenyang J-15 (buddy refueling), comparable to US tankers. J-15 and HU-6 are less capable aerial tankers that will be phased out in favor of the YU-20.
The Global Times quoted Wang Minghzi, a Chinese military expert. In general, aerial refueling enhances a jet's combat radius by 30-35% with the YU-20 Aerial Tanker.
The J-20 has seen new upgrades in photos from September 2021, such as a retractable Luneburg Lens on its belly right behind the main missile bay doors. It was widely agreed that the previous iterations' small cylindrical lens in that location had been fixed.
China Central Television (CCTV) disclosed that the jet was visible, accomplishing quite precise turns and moving up over Zhuhai at the time. Stealth aircraft use a Luneburg Lens, also used by the US F-35, to make themselves noticeable on radar and disguise their true RCS throughout missions.
Air Combat training
Chinese social media also cited reports from local media and defense publications about the PLAAF establishing a comprehensive air combat system that would integrate all of China's frontline fighters.
These consist of the J-20, J-16, and J-10, presumably its most recent variant, the J-10C, operating as a single unit in battle simulations beside the other support aircraft and ground units.
This is almost definitely compelled by fears of a western Pacific conflict just after US Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan earlier in the month, which saw China conduct extraordinary live-fire drills around the island.
Two significant accomplishments in the activities were the J-20's participation in the live fire exercises and the missiles flying over Taiwan to land in the seas on the eastern side.
According to a retired Air Commodore-rank IAF fighter pilot who has flown in exercises with the United States Air Force (USAF), the J-20 units were most probably instructed to learn the ultra-advanced jet rapidly.
The J-20 is distinct from other Gen. 4++ jets. It is highly advanced, with advanced electronics, stealth, sensors, sensor fusion, data processing, and possibly some AI-enabled systems.
Aside from learning to control and fly the aircraft in a short period, pilots must also be proficient in these areas. The YU-20 aerial tanker is an important component in the operations of Chinese fighters benefitting from a more extended range by in-flight refueling.
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