수송기 고해상도 사진이 공개된 중국의 Y-15 중형 수송기

[위종민]

이전에 Y-30으로 알려졌던 중국의 Y-15 4발 터보프롭 중형수송기의 사진이 공개됐네요. A400M보다 주익의 후퇴익 각도가 좀 더 직선익에 가깝고 윙렛도 달려있습니다. WJ-10은 출력이 6천 8백 마력으로 1만 1천마력인 A400M의 TP400-D6에 비해 출력이 낮아 A400M보다는 C130이나 이 기체가 대체할 Y-9에 가까운 체급이라고 합니다. 

중국의 신형 Y-15 터보프롭 수송기를 가장 선명하게 보다

4발 터보프롭 수송기는 현대화되고 있는 중국 군용 수송기 전력의 핵심적인 새로운 축이 될 것으로 예상된다.

토머스 뉴딕

2026년 8월 20일 오후 2시 13분(미 동부시간)

미확인 시험비행장에서 포착된 Y-15. (출처: 중국 인터넷)

중국의 신형 중형 전술수송기가 훨씬 선명한 영상과 함께 점차 모습을 드러내고 있다. 이전까지는 널리 “Y-30”으로 불렸지만, 4발 터보프롭 수송기의 명칭은 현재 Y-15인 것으로 보인다. 이는 시제기의 것으로 보이는 “15001” 일련번호와도 부합하며, 오픈소스 보도에서도 점점 더 이런 명칭이 지지를 받고 있다.

비행 중인 Y-15의 새로운 모습. (출처: 중국 인터넷)

새로운 영상은 이 항공기의 구성을 훨씬 더 잘 보여준다. 산시항공공사(SAC)가 개발한 Y-15는 구형 Y-8 계열 수송기와, 장기적으로는 Y-9까지 대체하는 것을 목표로 한다. 동시에 비교적 열악한 비행장에서 운용하기에 적합한 보다 강력한 터보프롭 수송기를 중국에 제공하려는 목적도 있다. Y-9은 Y-8을 현대화한 기종이며, 그보다 오래된 Y-8 설계는 1957년 초도비행한 소련 안토노프 An-12를 직접 복제한 것이다.

랜딩기어를 접거나 전개하는 과정의 Y-15. (출처: 중국 인터넷)

이 신형 중국 수송기가 Y-30이라는 명칭과 공개적으로 처음 연관된 것은 2014년 주하이 에어쇼에 모형이 등장했을 때였다. 이후 해당 명칭이 이 프로그램 관련 보도에서 널리 사용됐다.

2014년 주하이 에어쇼에 전시된 “Y-30” 모형. (출처: 중국 인터넷)

그 뒤 프로그램은 한동안 조용해졌다가, 2023년 SAC에서 개발이 재개됐다는 비공식 보도가 나왔다. 시제기의 첫 비행시험 영상은 2025년 12월 등장했으며, 당시 TWZ가 이를 보도했다.

위와 아래: Y-15의 초기 사진 두 장. (출처: 중국 인터넷)

Y-15는 6엽 고효율 프로펠러를 구동하는 터보프롭 엔진 4기를 갖추고 있다. 전체적인 구성은 중국의 더 크고 제트추진인 Y-20과 상당히 다르며, 대신 록히드마틴 C-130J와 같은 항공기와 대체로 같은 작전 범주에 들어간다.

형태상으로는 에어버스 A400M과도 분명한 시각적 유사성이 있다. 중국 수송기는 비교적 넓은 동체와 후방 적재 램프, 중장비용 랜딩기어, 고익, T자형 꼬리날개를 갖고 있다.

다만 A400M의 후퇴익과 달리 중국 수송기는 비교적 곧은 고양력 날개를 채택했으며, 유럽 기종에는 없는 대형 윙렛이 날개 끝에 달려 있다. 이런 구성은 전술수송 작전에 필요한 저속 성능과 실용적인 순항 효율을 함께 확보하는 데 도움이 될 것으로 보인다.

A400M과 비슷한 외형에도 불구하고 Y-15는 크기와 중량, 성능 등급이 다른 더 작은 항공기로 보인다. A400M의 TP400-D6 엔진 4기는 각각 약 11,000마력을 내는 반면, 중국 수송기의 WJ-10 터보프롭은 그보다 훨씬 낮은 약 6,800마력을 내는 것으로 알려져 있다.

이는 Y-15가 A400M보다는 C-130J 및 중국의 자체 Y-9에 더 자연스러운 대응 기종임을 시사한다.

확인되지 않은 추정치로는 탑재량이 약 30톤이라는 수치가 제시돼 왔지만, 항공기가 아직 시험 중인 만큼 이 숫자는 신중하게 받아들여야 한다. 비교하면 Y-9의 탑재량은 일반적으로 약 25톤으로 평가되고, C-130J-30은 대략 21톤급이다. 동시에 Y-15는 Y-9보다 더 높고 넓은 내부 화물공간을 갖춰 더 부피가 큰 화물을 수용할 수 있는 것으로 평가된다.

비행시험 기체에서 가장 눈에 띄는 특징 가운데 하나는 기수 앞으로 길게 돌출된 에어데이터 붐이다. 이런 붐은 개발 중인 항공기에 일반적으로 장착되며, 시험 중 공기압, 온도, 공기흐름, 기타 변수들을 정밀하게 측정할 수 있게 해준다. 이전 보도에서는 이 장치를 공중급유 프로브로 잘못 식별한 사례가 있었다.

현재 시제기에는 공중급유 프로브가 장착돼 있지 않다. 그렇다고 이 능력이 앞으로 절대 추가되지 않는다는 뜻은 아니다. 특히 중국이 공중급유기 전력을 계속 확충하고 있다는 점을 감안하면 더욱 그렇다.

YY-20A 공중급유기가 J-16 두 대에 급유하고 있다. (출처: 중국 인터넷)

중국의 Y-8 및 Y-9 파생형들은 하나의 공통 수송기 기체가 특수임무용 항공기를 포함해 매우 다른 구성들의 기반이 될 수 있음을 보여줬다. Y-15도 중국 인민해방군 공군(PLAAF)에 배치된 이후 비슷한 방향으로 발전할 가능성이 높다.

PLAAF 입장에서 이 항공기의 후방 적재 램프와 중장비용 랜딩기어는 특히 중요할 것으로 보인다. 이 항공기는 단순히 주요 공군기지 사이에서 화물을 운반하는 데 그치지 않고, 전장에 더 가까운 곳과 더 짧거나 거칠고 상대적으로 덜 정비된 활주로에서 운용하도록 설계된 것으로 보인다.

Y-15 초기 후방 3/4 시점 사진. (출처: 중국 인터넷)

PLAAF는 여전히 상당한 수의 구형 Y-8 계열 수송기를 운용하고 있으며, Y-9이 보다 현대적인 터보프롭 주력기로 자리 잡았다. 더 무거운 영역에서는 Y-20이 남아 있는 PLAAF의 Il-76 수송기들을 빠르게 대체하고 있으며, 구형 기단이 제공하지 못했던 장거리 전략수송 능력을 제공한다.

TWZ와의 인터뷰에서 중국 항공 전문가이자 이 매체의 기고자인 안드레아스 루프레히트는 Y-15가 Y-9을 대체할 것으로 예상한다고 말했다. PLAAF는 Y-9의 화물칸이 작고 엔진 출력이 부족하다는 이유로 전술수송 역할에 충분하지 않다고 보고 있다는 것이다.

터보프롭 추진과 단거리 활주 성능을 중시한 것으로 보이는 설계는 대형 Y-20 운용이 비현실적인 장소에 병력, 차량, 보급품, 기타 장비를 수송하는 데 특히 유용할 것으로 보인다.

Y-15의 또 다른 새로운 하부 모습. (출처: 중국 인터넷)

그러한 장소에는 분산 배치된 기지와 외딴 중국 시설, 그리고 중국의 도서 전초기지들이 포함될 수 있다. 티베트 같은 원격 지역에 병력을 신속히 증원하는 것도 전시의 명백한 임무가 될 수 있다. 또한 이 항공기는 공수강습 및 공중투하 임무를 위한 유용한 플랫폼이 될 수 있으며, 이런 능력은 중국 인민해방군이 합동작전의 범위와 정교함을 확대하면서 점점 더 중요해지고 있다.

수출 추진 역시 가능성이 매우 높다. 특히 Y-15는 비슷한 서방 설계에 일반적으로 적용되는 엄격한 수출 제한에서 자유로울 것이기 때문이다. 그동안 Y-9은 계속 해외 수주를 확보하고 있으며, 가장 최근에는 이미 A400M을 운용 중인 카자흐스탄이 이를 구매했다. 이는 두 기종의 능력이 매우 다르다는 또 하나의 신호다.

비행시험이 현재 본격적으로 확대되는 것으로 보이는 가운데, 다음 주요 질문은 실제 성능이 지금까지의 추정치와 얼마나 가까울지, 그리고 중국이 단일 시제기 단계에서 양산 기단으로 얼마나 빠르게 넘어갈지 여부가 될 것이다.

Our Best Look At China’s New Y-15 Turboprop Airlifter

Our Best Look At China’s New Y-15 Turboprop Airlifter

Our Best Look At China’s New Y-15 Turboprop Airlifter

The four-engine turboprop is expected to form a key new piece of China’s modernizing military transport fleet.

Thomas Newdick

Published Aug 20, 2026 2:13 PM EDT

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via Chinese internet

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China’s new medium-sized tactical airlifter is emerging from the shadows, as much clearer imagery becomes available. Previously widely referred to as the “Y-30,” the four-turboprop transport now appears to be designated the Y-15, a change reflected by the prototype’s apparent “15001” serial number and increasingly supported by open-source reporting.

A new inflight view of the Y-15. via Chinese internet

New imagery provides a much better appreciation of the aircraft’s configuration. Developed by Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation (SAC), the Y-15 is intended to provide a modern replacement for older Y-8-series transports and, eventually, the Y-9, while giving China a more capable turboprop airlifter suited to operations from relatively austere airfields. While the Y-9 is a modernized Y-8, the older design is a direct copy of the Soviet Antonov An-12, first flown in 1957.

The Y-15 in the process of retracting or deploying its landing gear. via Chinese internet via Chinese internet

The new Chinese aircraft first became publicly associated with the Y-30 designation after a model appeared at the 2014 Zhuhai Airshow. That designation subsequently became widely used in reporting about the program.

A model of the “Y-30” displayed at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2014. via Chinese internet

The program then went quiet, before unofficial reports in 2023 that work had resumed at SAC. The first flight-test imagery of the prototype appeared in December 2025, as we reported at the time.

Above and below: Two of the first images of the Y-15. via Chinese internet

via Chinese internet

The Y-15 has four turboprop engines driving six-blade high-efficiency propellers. Its overall configuration is notably different from China’s larger, jet-powered Y-20 and instead puts it in the same broad operational category as aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin C-130J.

The configuration also has some obvious visual similarities to the Airbus A400M. The Chinese aircraft has a relatively broad fuselage, a rear loading ramp, heavy-duty landing gear, a high-mounted wing, and a T-tail.

Unlike the swept wing of the A400M, the Chinese transport has a comparatively straight high-lift wing, with substantial winglets (lacking on the European design) at the tips. The arrangement should help the aircraft combine useful cruise efficiency with the low-speed performance needed for tactical transport operations.

A400M, the airlifter of the 21st Century

Despite its A400M-like appearance, the Y-15 appears to be a smaller aircraft in a different weight and performance class. The A400M’s four TP400-D6 engines each produce around 11,000 horsepower, while the Chinese aircraft’s WJ-10 turboprops are understood to produce substantially less — around 6,800 horsepower.

That suggests the Y-15 is a more natural counterpart to the C-130J and China’s own Y-9 than to the A400M.

Unconfirmed estimates have suggested a payload of around 30 metric tons, although that figure should be treated cautiously while the aircraft remains in testing. For comparison, the Y-9 is generally credited with a payload of roughly 25 tons, while the C-130J-30 is in the roughly 21-ton range. At the same time, the Y-15 is assessed to have a larger internal cargo space than the Y-9, with a greater height and width to accomodate bulkier payloads.

via Chinese internet

One of the most obvious features of the flight-test aircraft is the long air-data boom projecting from the nose. Such booms are standard equipment on developmental aircraft, allowing engineers to collect precise measurements of air pressure, temperature, airflow, and other parameters during testing. Previous reports have erroneously identified this feature as an inflight refueling probe.

There is currently no refueling probe fitted to the prototype. That does not necessarily mean the capability will never be incorporated, however, especially as China continues to build its aerial tanker fleet.

A YY-20A aerial tanker tops up a pair of J-16s. via Chinese internet

Chinese Y-8 and Y-9 derivatives have demonstrated how a common transport airframe can become the basis for substantially different configurations, including aircraft equipped for specialized missions. The same is likely for the Y-15, once it enters People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) service.

For the PLAAF, the aircraft’s rear loading ramp and heavy-duty landing gear will likely be particularly important. The aircraft appears designed not simply to move cargo between major airbases, but to operate closer to the battlefield and from runways that may be shorter, rougher, or otherwise less developed.

An early rear three-quarter view of the Y-15. via Chinese internet

The PLAAF still operates substantial numbers of older Y-8-family transports, while the Y-9 has become the more modern turboprop workhorse. At the heavier end, the Y-20 is rapidly replacing remaining PLAAF Il-76 transports and provides the long-range strategic airlift capacity that the older fleet could not match.

Speaking to TWZ, Andreas Rupprecht, an expert on Chinese aviation and contributor to this website, said he expected the Y-15 to replace the Y-9, a type that the PLAAF does not consider adequate for the tactical transport role, on account of its small cargo hold and underpowered engines.

Its turboprop propulsion and apparent emphasis on short-field performance should make it particularly useful for moving troops, vehicles, supplies, and other equipment into locations where operating a large Y-20 would be impractical.

Another new underside view of the Y-15. via Chinese internet

That could include dispersed bases and remote Chinese facilities, as well as the country’s island outposts. The rapid reinforcement of units in remote regions such as Tibet would also be an obvious wartime mission. The aircraft could also provide a useful platform for airborne assault and airdrop missions, capabilities that have become increasingly important as the PLA has expanded the scope and sophistication of its joint operations.

An export drive is also highly likely, especially as the Y-15 will be immune to the tight export restrictions that typically apply to comparable Western designs. In the meantime, the Y-9 continues to win foreign orders, most recently being bought by Kazakhstan, which already operates the A400M — another signal of these two types’ very different capabilities.

With flight testing now apparently ramping up, the next major questions will be how closely its eventual performance matches the estimates surrounding it, and how quickly China moves from a single prototype to a production fleet.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

Thomas NewdickStaff Writer

Thomas Newdick is a staff writer at TWZ, where he covers military aviation, defense technology, weapons systems, and international security. Based in Berlin, Germany, he reports on conflicts, military modernization efforts, and emerging aerospace technologies around the world, with a particular interest in airpower and its role in contemporary warfare. His reporting is informed by deep expertise in modern and historical airpower, particularly in Europe, with a focus on military aviation, air campaigns, and aerospace developments across the continent and beyond.