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.

No further details about the entry-into-service were revealed in the report, which appeared on a Chinese defence blogging site, except that the Y-8GX6 (Y-8Q) may be rolled out to the PLAN's East and South Sea Fleets at a later date.

First revealed in November 2011 via a series of images, the Y-8GX6 (Y-8Q) is the latest version of the Y-8/Y-9 platform that dates back to the mid-1970s. Details are sketchy, but IHS Jane's has previously reported that the Y-8GX6 (Y-8Q) features a redesigned wing and pressurised fuselage with composite structures (completed with the assistance of the Antonov Corporation), WJ-6C turboshaft engines, and six-bladed propellers.

As noted when the images of the aircraft first emerged, it is chiefly distinguishable from previous variants of the Y-8/Y-9 by its large chin-mounted sea-search radar, an electro-optical system aft of the nose wheel, and a weapons bay just in front of the main wheels. It also has a pronounced magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) boom and domed windows in the aft fuselage for observation.

Performance specifications have not been released, but an empty baseline Y-8 transport aircraft with maximum fuel has an estimated range of about 6,680 km (although a Y-8GX6 [Y-8Q] loaded down with mission kit without auxiliary fuel tanks will be less than this). For its ASW and maritime patrol missions, it will likely carry a range of already-fielded air-launched torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and sonobuoys.

Other special mission versions of the Y-8/Y-9 platforms include the Y-8CB communications intelligence (COMINT) aircraft; the Y-8JB electronic intelligence (ELINT) aircraft; the Y-8G signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft; the Y-8H intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft; the Y-8J airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft; the Y-8X patrol aircraft; the Y-8W AEW&C aircraft; the Y-8T command and control (C2) aircraft; the Y-8XZ electronic warfare (EW) aircraft; the T0518 AEW&C aircraft; the ZDK-03 AEW&C aircraft; and the KZ-800 ELINT aircraft.