Good thing they are working on a fully domestic C919 that is scheduled for 2027
PLA AEW&C, SIGINT, EW and MPA thread
- Thread starter Sczepan
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Nevermind, clearer pictures showed that it's indeed the tail
Here the uncensored one …
Is #7821 the same prototype that was used for WS-20 integration flight tests back then?
Oh I agree, there can be various benefits to it. Especially on a large and powerful platform like the y-20.
Even if you do this you still risk sanctioning COMAC and any of its aircraft that use foreign (Western) components.
IMO the thing is that Y-9 is a limited platform with old engines, there's a good reason why PLAAF isn't procuring much Y-9s. Optimal KJ-500 replacement is a C919 based AEWC same with KQ-200 replacement(IMO Y-9 is decent for this job anyways as ASW work doesn't need nearly as long of a endurance as AEWC). Right now KJ-500 is getting old as it's still based on late 2000s technology, newer AEWC like the E-7 exceeds it in capability and PLAAF probably isn't going to go all KJ-3000 either so IMO a replacement is needed right now
Even if not as ideal as the C919 platform, the new medium transport aircraft (which yankee has mentioned could appear in the next few years) is a superior option than the Y-9, and at the same time more realistic than C919.
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What about the KJ-700?
KJ-700 as of right now seems to be PLAN only, it's been two years and no KJ-700 has been spotted in PLAAF colors and KJ-500 production for PLAAF is still active, KJ-700 has some interesting features as what seem to be a surface search radar and no IFR probe much suited to PLAN usage IMO. Any how it is still based on the obsolete Y-9.
Theres a good reason where every country that build AEWC aircrafts outside of Russia and China use passenger aircraft instead of transports, it is far more economical and offers greater performance than any transport as PLAAF shifts to more strategic and expeditionary missions a high performance mass produced AEWC with high endurance is a must and I don't think any transport based AEWC even when using new medium lift transport as a base aircraft cuts it.
Sure, a C919-based platform is definitely the most optimal - But is it realistically within reach of the PLA in the near-to-medium term? The answer is most likely no.
That's why there are KJ-700 and KJ-3000s, alongside the continued procurement of KJ-500 (if the production is still ongoing). The Y-9 and Y-20 are already readily available to the PLA, and given the geopolitical and military development in the WestPac - I don't think the PLA has enough patience to wait for a brand new platform that will remain sensitive and risky for the foreseeable periods of time to be made available to them, in order to have their newer/future special mission aircrafts be based off that platform.