PLA milestones: How China has built its military might

Homegrown large transport aircraft, Y-20, takes off on June 2016. Two Y-20 planes officially joined the Air Force on July 6, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Largest homegrown transport aircraft

Y-20, China's largest homegrown transport aircraft, made its maiden flight on Jan 2013, marking a step in the country's goal of building a strategic air power. In July 2016, two Y-20 planes officially joined the Air Force. Designed and manufactured by State-owned aviation giant the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the Y-20 boasts a maximum takeoff weight of around 200 tons.

It is ideal for transporting cargo and people over long distances in diverse weather conditions.

According to a report in March, China will develop a new generation of rockets that will be launched from aircraft to put satellites into space and the Y-20 strategic transport plane will be the carrier of these rockets.

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