Shaanxi Y-9

The Shaanxi Y-9 is a medium utility and military transport aircraft produced by the Shaanxi Aircraft Company for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). It is a lengthened and upgraded development of the Shaanxi Y-8F. Development began around 2002 under the Y-8X program, a collaborative effort with Antonov intended to compete with the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. Shaanxi adopted the Y-9 designation by September 2005, incorporating design features from the cancelled Y-8F600. Following design changes in 2006, the design was frozen in January 2010. The aircraft completed its first flight in November 2010.

The Y-9 is powered by four WoJiang WJ-6C turboprop engines, each producing 3,800 kW, driving six-bladed JL-4 composite, constant-speed, fully-feathering, and reversible propellers. The aircraft has a cruise speed of 560 km/h, an endurance of approximately 10.5 hours, and a service ceiling of 10,400 m. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 65,000 kg and a fuel capacity of 23,000 kg. The cargo bay has an internal volume of 155 m³ and is equipped with cargo handling rollers, tie-down rings, and a rear entrance ramp. The Y-9 has a payload capacity of 20,000 kg, or it can carry 106 paratroopers or 72 medevac patients with three attendants. Its range is 2,200 km with a 15,000 kg payload, and its ferry range is 5,700 km.

The Y-9 entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in 2012, and achieved full operating capability in December 2017. Chinese military operators include the PLAAF, which operates over 30 base Y-9 aircraft alongside specialized variants; the People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF); and the People's Liberation Army Ground Force Aviation. Export customers include Myanmar, which ordered one Y-9E in November 2017, and Namibia, which received two Y-9E aircraft in December 2024.

Main Variants

• Y-9: The base military transport and utility variant.

• Y-9E: The export variant of the Y-9, equipped with Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150B engines.

• Y-8Q / KQ-200 (GX-6): An anti-submarine warfare variant.

• Y-9JZ (GX-8): An electronic intelligence variant.

• Y-9W / KJ-500 (GX-10): An airborne early warning and control variant featuring a five-hour endurance and a lighter version of the KJ-2000 active electronically scanned array radar.