While the Chinese city Hefei has a big new airport that it would like to keep busy, aircraft maker Avic has a turboprop airliner plant that is not busy enough. Each of these state entities is making a small contribution to solving the other's problem.

CHINA INTERCEPTS: China has conducted its second ballistic missile interception test, state media report. The target was an intercontinental ballistic missile in the midcourse phase of its flight, which occurs after engine shutdown and before atmospheric re-entry. The Jan. 27 test met its goals and was defensive in nature, the Xinhua news agency says, adding that it was conducted within Chinese territory.

BEIJING — China’s Y-20 heavy airlifter, long known to be in development, made its first flight on Jan. 26. Official photographs showed the aircraft powered by four medium-bypass turbojets and adopting the familiar configuration of a high-wing, T-tail and short fuselage-mounted undercarriage now almost universally used for military transports. The undercarriage had three axles on each side, with two wheels mounted on each axle. The aircraft has therefore not differed markedly from the design previously revealed in low-resolution pictures.