PLA AEW&C, SIGINT, EW and MPA thread

[by78]

It's always busy at AVIC Shaanxi.

 

[siegecrossbow]

wow, I identified at least 7 KJ-500 in one site, amazing ... wondering how many KJ-500 in service now, 20-25 maybe

And I read somewhere that KJ-500 is very advanced, more advanced than KJ-2000 even a lot smaller and cheaper

That’s a massive underestimate.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

That’s a massive underestimate.

So somewhere in the 50s-60s for the KJ-500? Or in the 70s-80s?

Besides, any news on the development of the KJ-3000, i.e. Y-20-based AWACS?

 

[Blitzo]

So somewhere in the 50s-60s for the KJ-500? Or in the 70s-80s?

Besides, any news on the development of the KJ-3000, i.e. Y-20-based AWACS?

Total KJ-500s between PLAAF and PLANAF is probably 40-50 comfortably, maybe even higher.

There are no definitive indications of a KJ-3000 being seriously pursued at this stage, though it's possible they might procure one eventually. Given the way technology and warfare is going, you don't need a big Y-20 or 767 sized airframe to be a highly capable AEWC platform, and around the world nations are transitioning to slightly smaller medium sized airframes like 737, or Y-9 in the PLA's case because miniaturisation and automation means you don't need the same huge airframe to support a highly capable radar and C4I capability, and a medium sized airframe based off a long run of actively in service airframes means it lowers your operational costs and raises readiness.

 

[banjex]

I thought it was 35? 50 is crazy if true. What a contrast to the way some recent wanna be militaries approach air warfare.

 

[supersnoop]

Has there even been a scale model of a Y-20 AWACS?

By comparison they produced a Y-20 tanker and sent it out on a relatively high profile operation (Taiwan flights) extremely quickly.

Just going by logic, doesn’t seem like a high priority.

 

[Deino]

Has there even been a scale model of a Y-20 AWACS?

By comparison they produced a Y-20 tanker and sent it out on a relatively high profile operation (Taiwan flights) extremely quickly.

Just going by logic, doesn’t seem like a high priority.

Sorry in case I misunderstood your post, but there is none available and AFAIK a Y-20-based AEW is not even confirmed yet.

 

[supersnoop]

Sorry in case I misunderstood your post, but there is none available and AFAIK a Y-20-based AEW is not even confirmed yet.

I’m talking about those scale models at the exhibitions, like Y-20F-100, Y-30, etc.

If there’s no spy shots, no satellite photos, and not even a scale model like those, then they probably aren’t even really considering it at the moment. That’s what I meant.

 

[BoraTas]

Total KJ-500s between PLAAF and PLANAF is probably 40-50 comfortably, maybe even higher.

There are no definitive indications of a KJ-3000 being seriously pursued at this stage, though it's possible they might procure one eventually. Given the way technology and warfare is going, you don't need a big Y-20 or 767 sized airframe to be a highly capable AEWC platform, and around the world nations are transitioning to slightly smaller medium sized airframes like 737, or Y-9 in the PLA's case because miniaturisation and automation means you don't need the same huge airframe to support a highly capable radar and C4I capability, and a medium sized airframe based off a long run of actively in service airframes means it lowers your operational costs and raises readiness.

I think such a 200-ton class AEW aircraft might make sense for counter stealth applications. A huge VHF-band radar mounted in E7-style should achieve good ranges against stealth aircraft. And the movement of aircraft itself could be used for ranging. A large 360 degree IRST system could be added as well.

Would be quite exotic of a system, though. And if such a counter-stealth AEW is being pursued, it would probably be classified until the late-stage of its development.

 

[Strangelove]

delete, issues with posting pics.