thx for the insight… while i can understand y it does not make economic sense for china to attempt building an aircraft on par w/ the 747 or A340 rite now, china definitely has great need for an a large transport similar to the il-76 or c-5….

now that they have awacs, they’ll need airframes to mount them on… they’ll also need a tanker fleet to provide aerial refueling for their fighters, and they would want a greater airlift capability that can rapidly transport their land forces to areas of trouble…

the most capable transport china currently produces is the y-8 (an-12 derivative) which is not big enuf nor does it have sufficient range… other than that, there’s the 14 il-76 acquired from russia, but this wont be enuf to meet china’s needs… i’ve heard that they’re trying to get an-124s but so far its only talk… so y is china unable or unwilling to build sth like that on their own?