{
  "id": "y-8e",
  "name": "Y-8E",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "air",
  "country": "CHN",
  "category": "Unmanned aerial vehicle launch and control aircraft",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1988,
  "operators": [
    "CHN",
    "KAZ",
    "LKA",
    "MMR",
    "PAK",
    "SDN",
    "TZA",
    "VEN"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 8,
  "summary": "Y-8E This version is used for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launch and control. Development began in October 1988 and the first prototype was completed in March 1990.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation",
      "src": [
        "weg-y-8e"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 6,
      "src": [
        "weg-y-8e"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 34.02,
      "src": [
        "weg-y-8e"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 11.16,
      "src": [
        "weg-y-8e"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 38,
      "src": [
        "weg-y-8e"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Wingspan"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Wing area",
      "section": "dims",
      "v": "121.86 sq m",
      "src": [
        "weg-y-8e"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 35500,
      "src": [
        "weg-y-8e"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Empty weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 61000,
      "src": [
        "weg-y-8e"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Max takeoff weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "4 x Wojiang-6 turboprop",
      "src": [
        "weg-y-8e"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thrust / power",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "4,250 equivalent hp each",
      "src": [
        "weg-y-8e"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "range_km",
      "v": 5615,
      "src": [
        "weg-y-8e"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_kmh",
      "v": 662,
      "src": [
        "weg-y-8e"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "ceiling_m",
      "v": 10400,
      "src": [
        "weg-y-8e"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rate of climb",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "600 m/min",
      "src": [
        "weg-y-8e"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Endurance",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "10.5 hours",
      "src": [
        "weg-y-8e"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "Note",
      "text": "Y-8 This was the original version. It was little different from the An-12 with a slightly modified glass nose copied from the design of the H-6 bomber. The cargo hold was not pressurized.",
      "src": [
        "weg-y-8e"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "uav",
  "image": null,
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/y-8e.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-y-8e": {
      "title": "Y-8E Chinese Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Launch and Control Aircraft",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/Y-8E_Chinese_Unmanned_Aerial_Vehicle_UAV_Launch_and_Control_Aircraft",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}