Y-9GR High New 17
An image first disclosed in April 2025 suggested that a new electronic jamming aircraft (Y-9GR/High New 17?) was being developed by SAC. It features a stretched nose cone housing a large EW antenna. Two additional oval/cylindrical shaped EW antennas protrude from both sides of the lower fuselage near the nose landing gear. All three antennas are thought to be part of a new long-range standoff electronic jamming (SOJ) system. The rear fuselage appears similar to that of Y-9Z, equipped with various ELINT, ESM and SATCOM antennas. Y-9GR is expected to replace the old Y-8G.
Y-9W High New 18
A blurry image first disclosed in December 2025 suggested that a possible gunship variant based on the Y-9 transport (Y-9W/GY-9, High New 18?) might have been under developement at SAC. The aircraft features an enlarged nose cone, small fairings or an EO turret underneath the forward fuselage, a bigger round fairing underneath the mid-fuselage, two small fairings on both sides of the rear fuselage, two odd-looking pods or missile/loitering munition launchers being carried under the outer wings. Ceramic armor plates might have been installed around the lower fuselage to provide protection against small caliber shells. The exact purpose of Y-9W is still unknown.