Concept Art Of Jetzero Blended Wing Body Aircraft Prototype. Credit: US Air Force
China is developing a next-generation heavy-lift aircraft that could surpass the capabilities of the world’s most powerful strategic airlifters, signaling a major shift in its global military ambitions. As reported by The Daily Galaxy, early research tied to China’s defense sector reveals a massive transport aircraft featuring intercontinental range, a 120-tonne payload, and an advanced aerodynamic design unlike anything currently in service.
The concept departs sharply from traditional airframe structures such as the U.S. Air Force’s C-5M Super Galaxy. Instead, it adopts a blended wing body (BWB) configuration that merges wings and fuselage into one continuous surface. This futuristic approach, long explored by NASA and Western aerospace firms, promises higher lift efficiency, reduced drag, and greater internal volume. If realized, China could become the first nation to operationalize the concept on a military scale.
The proposed aircraft would be able to carry 120 metric tons of cargo across 6,500 kilometers without refueling, exceeding the C-5M’s unrefueled range of about 4,150 kilometers. Its maximum takeoff weight of 470 tons places it in the same class as Ukraine’s An-124 Ruslan but with more efficient aerodynamics and modern systems tailored for 21st-century operations.
Design studies highlight several cutting-edge features, including a V-tail structure, extended wingtips, and top-mounted engines to reduce turbulence and improve lift. Engineers describe the layout as a “Pareto-optimized configuration,” meaning it maximizes overall efficiency while balancing structural and performance constraints.
For comparison, China’s current heavy transport, the Y-20, can carry 66 tons over 4,500 kilometers. The new model would nearly double that payload and extend range by 40 percent, giving China an unprecedented ability to project power and deliver humanitarian or logistical aid far from home bases. It is also expected to operate from semi-prepared 2,600-meter runways, adding flexibility for missions in remote or contested regions.
Chinese PLA Air Force Y-20 Strategic Airlifter. Credit: Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation
The project reflects China’s strategic push to expand its global reach. A long-range airlifter of this capacity could support operations from Africa to the Pacific, assist Belt and Road partners, or bolster China’s overseas base in Djibouti. Future versions could serve as aerial tankers, early warning aircraft, or mobile command centers, mirroring the modular upgrades seen with the Y-20 fleet.
No prototype has been revealed yet, but evidence suggests the program is advancing through China’s major aerospace organizations, including AVIC and the Aerodynamics Research Institute.
Even without a network of global bases comparable to the U.S., China’s ambitions for this aircraft point to one clear goal: a heavy transport platform capable of carrying its influence, and its power, anywhere on Earth.
