China has begun a wide‑scale promotion of the export version of its Y‑20 cargo aircraft, although no firm orders have yet been placed. The move follows the elimination of dependence on Russian engines and the successful localisation of the WS engine family, notably the WS‑20. Like the Russian IL‑76, the Y‑20 is built on a versatile platform capable of multiple roles, but it offers higher speed, longer range and greater payload capacity than its Russian counterparts. In addition to its primary transport role, the platform has been adapted for specialised missions, including the Y‑20U refueller and the KJ‑3000 Avionics variant.