Senior Colonel Shen Jinke, spokesman for the PLA Air Force, said at a news briefing in Changchun two days before the opening of the air show that the event was the first opportunity for the public to get a close look at the new plane, which was declassified in late July.
The new tanker is a variant of China's Y-20 strategic transport plane. Built by the State-owned defense contractor Aviation Industry Corp of China, the YY-20 will boost the PLA Air Force's long-range capabilities.
