On December 16, 2025, China’s Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation conducted the maiden flight of the Y-30, a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft from the Xi’an airfield, designed to bolster the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s logistics with a planned payload of around 30 tonnes. Featuring a high-wing layout, T-tail, straight wings with winglets, six-bladed propellers, wide fuselage, rear loading ramp, and heavy-duty landing gear for short or unprepared runways, the Y-30 bridges the gap between the lighter Y-9 (20-tonne class) and strategic Y-20, potentially replacing aging Y-8 and Y-9 fleets while enabling tactical airlifts, airdrops, and operations from austere bases in the Indo-Pacific and border regions. Powered by WJ-10 (6,800 hp) or WJ-16 (5,140 hp) turboprops, it offers estimated maximum speeds of 600-700 km/h, ranges up to 6,000-7,000 km with payload, and capacity for over 110 troops, positioning it between the C-130J and A400M in capability.