PLAAF AWACS thread

[kroko]

Last update: 25 April 2007

That info is old. Do we have any pictures of Y-9?

[Deino]

That info is old. Do we have any pictures of Y-9?

Yes ... in the PLAAF-transport tread !

But here You go.

[Hendrik_2000]

That info is old. Do we have any pictures of Y-9?

Design data is what Shaanxi aim to achieve so what if it old . That is the parameter that Y-9 is designed for
Don't forget that the plane has to be certified . Without certification no sale.

Certification mean the plane meet all the design spec!

[no_name]

Does it makes sense to equip AWACs with all-round high performance IR coverage systems in addition to radars?

[Bltizo]

Does it makes sense to equip AWACs with all-round high performance IR coverage systems in addition to radars?

Do you mean MAWS, LWR? I think the wedgetail has the most comprehensive self defense suite on an AEW&C aircraft I've seen, while older generation E-3s do not seem to carry identifiable MAWS that I can see. I think there is a certain logic in equpping your AEW&C with an all round MAWS but nothing on the scale of EODAS. You also got to factor in the kind of region your aircraft will be operating in and the fighters you have to back it up. I think the USAF could get away with not equipping AEW&Cs with self defense suites with all their fighters as the vanguard, while say RAAF or PAF might want greater self defense capability etc etc.
I think optimally, all miitary aircraft should have some kind of MAWS in place, but of course the problem's money.

Btw we can see MAWS on ZDK-03 for pakistan, but interestingly we cannot, for KJ-200 for the PLAAF, if that gives you an idea of the threat environments both air forces intend their AEW&C to operate in. Also interesting is that the Y-8Q we saw shows one aircraft with MAWS apertures, another without. But I think that's a matter of not having installed it yet.

[no_name]

Something like EODAS, but more powerful and used to actively look for aircrafts and other targets rather than purely a defensive measure.

I had this thought because it seems that AWACs can be vulnerable to enemy stealth aircraft, so they should have other warning system in complement to radars.

Also does aircraft (fighters) generate high temperature while flighing through air at high speeds, and would this affect their own IR systems?

[Bltizo]

Something like EODAS, but more powerful and used to actively look for aircrafts and other targets rather than purely a defensive measure.

I had this thought because it seems that AWACs can be vulnerable to enemy stealth aircraft, so they should have other warning system in complement to radars.

Oh I see, you mean a passive detection system to complement the actual main radar. It's an intereting idea and one I've pondered before too, but I think a big limitation is that sensitivity of optics are not great nor reliable enough in all/most weather conditions. And the fact an EODAS system is passive you need to hope the enemy's aircraft are hot enough to detect, rather than sending out your own radar signals and waiting for a definitive return.

I personally think it may be easier just to incrementally upgrade radars to work better agaisnt stealth, or some kind of distributed sensor network instead of relying on a potentially unreliable technology for the all important long range early warning role... but in future i envisage an aircraft using its own radar, along with secondary ESM, EO apetures all pooling together to form a more detailed view of the battlefield.

[challenge]

MAW or eodas lack sufficient range for LR search and tracking, both detector were design for short range early warning device.
the solution will depend on new solfware.

[Quickie]

EODAS is limited by the EM (optical) band it's working with. The atmosphere presents a formidable barrier to the optical band beyond a certain distance much earlier than that for the EM wave band of a radar.

[Deino]

Finally ...

[Deino]

... and even better !

[Lion]

It looks chubby and cute. lol..

[asif iqbal]

this AWACS looks awesome, looks very nice and will fit in well to PAF

PAFs Erieye AWACS is said to have a detection range of 350km+ in all weather conditions and was tested in hot climate in Spain before it was delivered to PAF, it has fullfilled PAF requiments entirely, originally PAF ordered 6 Erieyes but after evalution of the ZDK-03 the order was cut to just 4 , so ZDK-03 must be good as Erieye

PAF asked for improvments in the platform and radar of ZDK-03 after these requirments a order of 4 was placed, it is said that future upgrades in software, electronics and communications will be easily integrated because the aircraft has been built with upgrade in mind

4 Erieyes + 4 Shaanxi Y8 AEW&C aircraft gives PAF ample AWACS coverage in time of war, considering we will be on the defensive and our airspace really isnt that big

2 more ZDK-03 for the Pakistan Navy would just be the iceing on the cake!!!

[Deino]

...
2 more ZDK-03 for the Pakistan Navy would just be the iceing on the cake!!!

And additionally the latest ASW-version would be a nice replacement for the Orions.

[Lion]

And additionally the latest ASW-version would be a nice replacement for the Orions.

That will be a long time... PLAN just received it.. It will probably need sometime for debug,tested and fulfil PLAN demand which maybe up to at least a dozens of them before they will looking for export order.

Anyway, I always thought ZDK-03 is for datalink of JF-17 while Erieye is for the F-16.

I don't think NATO stuff is able to datalink with Chinese equipments. I hope PAF will go for a all Chinese equip fleet in future and also cut down on the logistic and support issue.