PLA AEW&C, SIGINT, EW and MPA thread
- Thread starter Sczepan
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Long been rumoured WTC PLAAF has formed a ISR/AEWAC Regiment based at Golmud, this just shows what could be one of their KJ-500As leaving the factory in July this year.
So far we have under the WTC command two SAR Regiments(53x1x 53x2x), UAV Regiment(53x3x) at Hotan, possibly another UAV Regiment(53x4x ?) at Shigatse, then ISR/AEWAC Regiment(53x5x) at Golmud.
Long been rumoured WTC PLAAF has formed a ISR/AEWAC Regiment based at Golmud, this just shows what could be one of their KJ-500As leaving the factory in July this year.
So far we have under the WTC command two SAR Regiments(53x1x 53x2x), UAV Regiment(53x3x) at Hotan, possibly another UAV Regiment(53x4x ?) at Shigatse, then ISR/AEWAC Regiment(53x5x) at Golmud.
You once again beat me by a minute! Indeed, and another surprise
... for years, the PLAAF's 26th Specialised Division was the sole AEW-operator within the PLAAF (30x7x serial numbers). Now the PLAAF seems to have formed another dedicated EW/AEW regiment (53x5x serial numbers) within the Western TC at Qinghai - Golmud.(via ZUCK-ZX / Jetphotos & kcandrew/CDF)
It really makes me wonder how many kj500 they have with just plaaf. There are serial number up to 30 for 26th regiment and then starting again with 41, r3 and 44. Let's say kj500 stopped at 30 and kj500a started again at 41, then they have 34 at least.
Now there are probably at least 11 with 44th regiment.
Does that mean 45 kj500 with plaaf at least?
@Deino @Blitzo ?
Now there are probably at least 11 with 44th regiment.
Does that mean 45 kj500 with plaaf at least?
@Deino @Blitzo ?
Sometime ago @Blitzo did mention about this:
There is a documentary segment some weeks ago showcasing (possibly one of) the production line(s) for the Y-9, which includes the KJ-500.
Here's the shot of the Y-9s and KJ-500s parked outside the production line, posted by @by78.
In this shot alone there are 5 KJ-500s present. Who knows whether there are more parked elsewhere that aren't in this shot.
We can't be sure of when the documentary video was taken, but my rough guesstimate would be in the 50-60s at present.
This is the whole Shaanxi AC site - at least 40 Y9 variants parked in 3 separate groups, including 15 KJ500:
Indeed. That's why the guesstimated number of KJ-500s (and the Y-9 in general) presently available would have to be raised, IMO.
I think that by now, it is safe to say that China already has well over 100 Y-9 hulls of all variants. But even that estimate could be way lower than the actual figure.
When you consider all the roles Y9 variants fill then SAIC could build 50 a year for 10 years and still not satisfy the PLAs own requirements, let alone exports. I would expect fully domesticated C919 variants to take over some of the non-transport roles eventually but that won't be any time soon.
How many Y-9s (of all variants) do you guys think and/or estimate SAIC can roll out per year?
Also yay, position upgraded to Senior Member XD.
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