Defence

China's Shaanxi Aircraft has delayed until next year the first flight of its Y-9 transport, which boasts several improvements over its current Y-8 turboprop. The Y-8 is heavily based on the Soviet-era Antonov An-12 Cub.

"Originally we planned to have the first flight by the end of this year, but now we are making some small changes so the first flight has been delayed," says a company source.

Shaanxi says the stretched Y-9 will have new avionics, Chinese-built Wojiang WJ-6 engines, a 20t payload and a range of up to 5,800km (3,130nm).