Y-8GX6 (Y-8Q) - what operational unit(s) ?

[deino]

Nice to see that important type finally in service, however one strange thing: :cool:

The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has introduced into service a new maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variant of the Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation (SAC) Y-8/Y-9 medium transport aircraft, national media reported in late June.

An unspecified number of the four-engined Y-8GX6 (Y-8Q) turboprops have now been inducted into the North Sea Fleet, which is responsible for the maritime domain that stretches from the North Korean border to Lianyungang (Jiangsu Province), some three-and-a-half years after the type was first revealed in late 2011.

www.janes.com/article/52603/china-fields-new-maritime-patrol-and-anti-submarine-y-8-y-9-variant?hubRefSrc=email&utm_source=lfemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=lfnotification#lf_comment=337737559

Also Scramble lists the 2. Naval Aviation Division to operate this type ... however following the latest images the serials are 8519x which means they are assigned to the 9. Naval Aviation Division ... South Sea Fleet !

Deino

by the way here's a better image

[deino]

Another note found at Scramble:

Early 2015 the first operational Y8Q was noted (serial 85x2x), suggesting that the SH5 replacement is near.

So maybe the 4-number in that serial was not a 9 but a 2 !??

Deino

[huitong]

Those Y-8Qs are being trained at the 2nd Div first to get familiar with the operation procedures. They will be relocated to 9th Div eventually.

[deino]

Thanks a lot !

Deino