‘Larger Than American C-5 Galaxy’: China Unveils Super-Heavy Aircraft Capable Of Nonstop Global Missions, Threaten India’s Strategic Edge | World News
Beijing: China has unveiled early designs for what could be the world’s largest military transport aircraft. Currently in the pre-prototype stage, the concept features a mixed wing body (BWB) layout and promises capabilities exceeding those of the US Air Force’s C-5 Galaxy and Ukraine’s Antonov An-124 Ruslan.
Backed by Beijing’s top aviation research institutes and supported by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), the aircraft is designed to carry up to 120 metric tons of cargo for 6,500 kilometers without refueling. Such a range opens the door to intercontinental missions far beyond China’s current operational range.
Technical documents and military-related studies suggest the aircraft will fly at Mach 0.85 and have a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 470 tonnes. If produced, analysts predict it could transform Beijing’s ability to quickly move troops, vehicles and heavy equipment across oceans without the need for foreign bases or allied staging posts.
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The launch coincides with increased competition in strategic airlift capability, an area long dominated by legacy platforms such as the C-5M Super Galaxy and An-124. Both aircraft were designed to transport tanks, missiles and personnel between continents.
China’s new concept could set a new benchmark in expeditionary logistics.
From NASA Laboratories to the Beijing Sky
The aircraft’s defining feature is its hybrid wing fuselage, a design that has been studied by NASA for decades. By combining the fuselage and wings into a single lifting surface, the BWB layout maximizes cargo space while reducing drag. China may be the first country to deploy BWBs on a full military scale, while NASA and Boeing are testing small-scale models.
The proposed design includes V-tail stabilizers, wingtip extensions for additional lift, and wing-mounted engines that reduce tail turbulence and increase thrust. It is planned to operate from semi-prepared runways as short as 2,600 meters, allowing deployment from remote or temporary airfields.
The technical briefing in Military Watch Magazine highlights the “Pareto-optimized configuration,” focusing on three mission-critical factors: fuel efficiency, cargo capacity, and takeoff flexibility. Chinese engineers implemented minor adjustments to multiple systems to maximize operational versatility.
Beyond the Second Island Chain
China’s current heavy lifter, the Y-20, carries 66 tons over 4,500 kilometers. The new aircraft will nearly double payload capacity and extend range by more than 40%, enabling operations well beyond the Second Island Chain, a strategic pipeline frequently referenced in Indo-Pacific military planning.
The consequences of this are important. China could strengthen disputed islands, provide equipment to Djibouti, or support Belt and Road Initiative partners in emergency situations. RBC-Ukraine reported that armored vehicles, missile systems and mechanized infantry can be deployed quickly without logistical bottlenecks.
Experts underline that the United States still relies on older aircraft designed decades ago. The C-5M modernization extended the life of the 50-year-old design, but the platform remains costly to operate. A Chinese BWB transport aircraft with modern engines, materials and avionics could fly farther, carry more and adapt faster to evolving missions.
Beyond Military Logistics
Aircraft can also serve humanitarian purposes. China deployed the Y-20 to help against Covid-19, flying medical supplies to Italy, Serbia and other countries. A larger, global-range platform could transport mobile hospitals, disaster response teams and engineering units to any crisis area.
This capability is in line with Beijing’s soft power strategy to position China as a provider of global public goods. Rapid response without relying on foreign infrastructure reinforces China’s rhetoric of self-reliance and benevolence.
Military analysts suggest the platform could produce multiple variants. Just as the Y-20 evolved into the YY-20 refueling and KJ-3000 early warning system, the BWB could support long-range tanking for H-20 stealth bombers or future sixth-generation fighters.
The aircraft, which does not yet have an official prototype, continues to exist conceptually. Still, design documents and simulation results show that significant progress has been made in China’s defense ecosystem. The magazine underlines that China can put such a platform into production faster than its Western rivals, which are also developing the successors of the C-5 and An-124.
