A YU-20 aerial tanker hosts aerial refueling for a J-20 stealth fighter and a J-16 multirole fighter simultaneously. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force released this undated photo on August 24, 2022 at a press conference prior to the PLA Air Force's open day event in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin Province from August 26 to 30. Photo: Courtesy of the PLA Air Force

The YU-20 aerial tanker has what seems to be a third refueling point at the tail of the aircraft in addition to the two under its wings, observers found in the aircraft's first public display at the ongoing open day event of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force. 

Military analysts said that this could enable the YU-20 to be compatible with bombers and early warning aircraft, in addition to fighter jets.

State-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China, the maker of the YU-20, on Sunday released photos showing the aircraft on static display at the PLA Air Force's open day event in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin Province. One of the pictures gave a close look at the aircraft from its rear, showing that there is what seems to be a hose-and-drogue system on the aircraft centerline at its tail.

This means that the YU-20 likely has a three-point refueling system - two probe-and-drogue refueling pods under the wings and one hose-and-drogue installed at the tail, analysts said.

Previously, the PLA Air Force published videos and photos showing the YU-20 hosting in-flight refueling with the two refueling pods under its wings for fighter jets like the J-20 and the J-16, but it has yet to show the application of this third refueling point.

With three refueling points, the YU-20 has the potential to host aerial refueling for three aircraft at the same time, a Chinese military expert told the Global Times on Monday, requesting anonymity.

This can greatly reduce the time required to finish the in-flight refueling for all aircraft in need, which has great tactical significance, the expert said, noting that in-flight refueling makes warplanes vulnerable, and fast refueling enables them to return to combat as quickly as possible.

Senior Colonel Shen Jinke, a spokesperson for the PLA Air Force, told the Global Times at a press conference at the PLA Air Force's open day event on Sunday that the YU-20 was deployed in the China-Russia joint aerial strategic patrol in May.

PLA Air Force aircraft including J-16 fighter jets and H-6K bombers participated in the joint patrol, and the YU-20 carried out aerial refueling for the J-16s, also with under-wing refueling pods, according to a video released by the PLA Air Force on Monday.

Based on experience from foreign countries, the refueling point at the tail of a tanker aircraft can host in-flight refueling for not only smaller aircraft like fighter jets, but also larger ones like bombers and early warning aircraft, analysts said.

For example, the H-6N long-range strategic bomber, the latest entry to the H-6 series that made its public debut at the National Day military parade in Beijing in 2019, has an aerial refueling probe.

This probe will allow the H-6N with refueling capability to conduct aerial refueling, significantly extending its operational range and expanding its weapons load, Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military expert, told the Global Times at the time.

In another related development, the Y-20 large transport aircraft, the base platform from which the YU-20 is developed, will fly to Europe and join an international air show for the first time, Shen announced on Monday.