Advanced Y-20 air freighter, fighter jets to debut at Airshow China

More advanced aircraft and weaponry will be exhibited this November at the 10th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, including the long-awaited debut of the Y-20 heavy air freighter.

"There will be more than 120 aircraft from 39 countries and regions at this year's Airshow, including the popular Airbus A380 and [China's] J-10 fighter," He Ningka, mayor of Zhuhai, in Guangdong Province, host city of the Airshow, told reporters at a Tuesday press conference.

"Besides, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China will present its Y-20, FC-1 fighter planes and the Leadair AG300 business aircraft," said He.

As the only international aerospace trade show endorsed by China's central government, the biennial Airshow China has been held in Zhuhai since 1996.

From November 11 to 16, some 130,000 visits are expected to this year's exhibition, a record-high, He noted.

The FD2000 air-defense missile and C601 anti-ship missile will continue its presence at the exhibition.

As first-time sponsors for Airshow China, China North Industries Group Corporation and China South Industries Group Corporation will also display ground force weaponry, including Red Arrow-8 anti-tank missiles, according to vice presidents from the two groups.

"The Y-20's debut will be eye-catching. There has been no official data on the air freighter since its maiden flight last year. It is believed that it will greatly upgrade China's heavy weaponry freight capacity with a payload of an estimated 60 tons," Zha Youyin, a Shanghai-based military expert, told the Global Times.

As this year also marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) air force, the exhibition will see the debut of female pilots in J-10 jet fighters, Shen Jinke, spokesperson for the PLA air force, told the press conference.

Shen added that two new foriegn aerobatics teams have been invited to perform at the exhibition.

The Black Eagle Aerobatics Team from South Korea and Al Fursan from the United Arab Emirates will perform along with China's Bayi Aerobatics Team, said Shen.

"Our aerobatics pilots are fully combat-ready. Through aerobatics performances, pilots can heighten their combat effectiveness," Shen said.

Senior air force officials from 27 countries will meet with their Chinese counterparts during the exhibition, while advanced weaponry that performed excellently in the Peace Mission 2014 military drill will be on display, Shen noted.