Chinese YU-20 Tanker Refuels Carrier-Based J-15, Massively Increases Pacific Threat

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

The Chinese military has now demonstrated aerial refueling in waters over the Pacific with its YU-20 Tanker and a J-15 carrier-based fighter jet, an extremely significant development which could over time greatly impact the strategic and tactical circumstances in the Pacific theater. 

For many years now, the Chinese Liberation Army Air Force has been working to convert its fleet of emerging Y-20 cargo planes into tankers, an effort which appears to be coming to fruition. 

“A YU-20 tanker aircraft of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force and a J-15 carrier-based fighter jet of the PLA Navy have conducted their first in-flight refueling exercise. Experts said on Wednesday that this exercise has displayed the systematic integration among different PLA services and will enhance the capabilities of Chinese aircraft carriers,” the Chinese-backed Global Times newspaper reports in a recent story. 

US & Allied Tactical Air Superiority in the Pacific

This development, should it continue to mature in coming years and expand into a larger fleet of tankers, could begin to erode the massive US air superiority advantage in the Pacific. With forward positioned US Navy amphibs, each capable of sailing with as many as 15 F-35B, and carrier-based F-35Cs, its has not been unrealistic to posit that the US Navy and its allies might be positioned to counter, destroy or fully stop a Chinese amphibious assault on Taiwan. The USS America, for instance, the Navy’s first America-class amphibious assault ship, has already deployed with as many as 13 F-35Bs. 

This is particularly true if the US uses its advanced fleet of attack submarines and Japan and South Korea are able to marshall an F-35 force as well.