Watch: China's heavy military cargo aircraft undergoes first test

Y-20's flight marks a leap in the air force's strategic delivery and long-distance airborne combat abilities

BEIJING: China's Y-20 heavy transport aircraft has undergone its first airborne and air delivery training, said the Chinese air force on Tuesday.

According to Shen Jinke, spokesperson of the air force, it marked a leap in the air force's strategic delivery and long-distance airborne combat abilities.

The air force is a strategic service, and its strategic capability should be in line with the constantly expanding national interests so it can carry out diverse military missions, said Shen.

China's Y-20 heavy transport aircraft conducts its first airborne and air delivery training pic.twitter.com/YaW1SOAhYI

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The strategic capability of the air force should be able to extend wherever China's national interests reach to provide reliable air security assurance for the country's development, he added.

The Y-20, which joined the People's Liberation Army Air Force in July 2016 and has a maximum takeoff weight of around 200 tonnes, is ideal for transporting cargo and people over long distances in diverse weather conditions.