Chinese Y-20 Airlifter Lands Near Moscow: Delivery of Anti-Drone Systems Suspected

A Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force Y-20 transport was reportedly filmed landingat Chkalovsky Air Base near Moscow, fuelling speculation that it may have been delivering supplies to support Russia’s military modernisation efforts. Although Russia has primarily relied on North Korea, and to a lesser extent on Iran, to supply its forces, it has also made limited procurements of advanced Chinese equipment. Footage released by Russian media outlets in late May showed that the Chinese-made Silent Hunter 3000 laser system had been procured for frontline use to defend against drone attacks. It has also been speculated that new anti-drone systems revealed in July to be being used by President Vladimir Putin’s personal security team may also be of Chinese origin.

In early October it was reported that FSTH-LD02 X-band and FSTH-LD03 Ku-band radar systems manufactured by Zhejiang Fanshuang Technology had been delivered, and were serving as the“eyes” of Russian anti-drone teams in multiple units. Considering that prior reported procurements from China have focused on defences against drone attacks, there remains a significant possibility that should the Y-20 be carrying military equipment, the cargo may be further anti-drone systems. China’s advanced drone and anti-drone technologies make these a major field where local and North Korean products cannot offer a similar capability, forcing Moscow to rely on Beijing despite China’s preference to avoid sending armaments to an active combat zone. The highly defensive nature of these systems may be a significant factor in Beijing’s willingness to openly make transfers.

The Y-20 has a range of 4,500 kilometres, which is already among the longest in the world, and a 66 ton cargo capacity. It is the largest transport aircraft in production anywhere in the world today. The aircraft’s entry into service in 2016 allowed China’s armed forces to end decades of reliance on Soviet and Russian Il-76 transports, which had themselves ceased production shortly after the USSR disintegrated forcing them to be procured second hand from successor states’ stockpiles. The use of the aircraft, rather than the Il-76, to fly into Moscow may be intended as a show of support at a time when countries in the Western world are seeking to maximise pressure against Russia in the theatre. Russia has faced not only Ukrainain forces, but also contingents from across the Western world, ranging from various contractors such as the Polish Volunteer Corps and American Forward Observation Group, as well as active duty personnel such as the British Royal Marines, and has engaged them without significant support in the form of manpower or war materials from states other than North Korea.