Compared with main combat equipment such as fighter jets and bombers, the gap between the air forces of China and the United States in support aircraft, especially airborne early warning aircraft, which are considered the cornerstone of modern air combat tactical systems, is significant. The U.S. Air Force has fallen far behind the People's Liberation Army. From the suspected test flight of the KJ-3000 at the end of last year to the recent suspected deployment of the new-generation KJ-700, it shows that China has been deeply cultivating in the field of airborne early warning aircraft for over a decade, and now it has reaped abundant fruits. (E-7 "Wedgetail" is noted for its mature technology and high reliability) In contrast, at the moment when various types of airborne early warning aircraft from China are thriving, the U.S. Air Force still relies on numerous outdated airborne early warning aircraft from the last century to maintain its image. As for the Boeing E-7 "Wedgetail", which is considered "the hope of all Americans", not only has it yet to receive any actual units, but it has already become obsolete even before it is delivered. No wonder the U.S. Air Force feels uneasy about the widening gap in airborne early warning aircraft capabilities compared to China. On April 16, the U.S. Defense Express reported on the latest progress of the E-7 project, claiming that although the U.S. Air Force is still some time away from receiving the first "Wedgetail", it is already exploring how to upgrade these aircraft, particularly the feasibility of replacing their radar systems. This clearly implies that they admit the aircraft will be obsolete upon entering service. The day before, on April 15, the U.S. Air Force issued an information request, stating that during the process of rapidly deploying two E-7 prototype aircraft, some advanced technologies could not be integrated due to schedule constraints. Therefore, they hope to integrate core technologies during the Engineering Manufacturing and Development (EMD) phase starting in the 2027 fiscal year, including possible projects such as new radars, more advanced electronic warfare protection, and enhanced communication kits. Here, the U.S. Air Force appears to be taking a two-step approach. Last year, the U.S. Air Force Department signed a $2.6 billion contract with Boeing to purchase two rapid prototypes, which are the two potentially incomplete function prototype aircraft mentioned earlier, expected to be delivered by the 2028 fiscal year. This step clearly reflects the U.S. military's sense that the pace of updating their airborne early warning aircraft fleet cannot keep up with the pace of obsolescence. Thus, they hope to deliver two units first to meet urgent needs. The issue of incomplete functionality can be gradually improved while in use, or they can start bidding now to develop more advanced subsystems, which could replace them with one or two months of work to form combat capability. The second step is more long-term, aiming to deliver two "advanced E-7" aircraft within seven years after the EMD phase, which can be understood as delivering two fully capable E-7 aircraft to the U.S. Air Force between 2027 and 2034. However, there seems to be considerable debate regarding the direction of the fleet construction. The U.S. Air Force has yet to decide whether to build new aircraft, modify existing ones, or use entirely different platforms to fulfill the E-7 mission. It seems that the challenges for the E-7 to truly enter service with the U.S. Air Force are not limited to issues with Boeing, a manufacturer that has had frequent accidents in recent years. The E-7 project was originally initiated by the Royal Australian Air Force and Boeing. In 1996, Australia launched the "Air 5077 Project" to procure an airborne early warning and control aircraft with electronic warfare and multi-mission processing capabilities to meet future war demands. After evaluation and bidding, in 1999, the Royal Australian Air Force chose Boeing as the contractor to develop the airborne early warning aircraft based on the Boeing 737-700, which is now known as the E-7. However, Boeing cannot independently complete all systems, so it collaborated with Northrop Grumman Corporation, Boeing Australia, and BAE Systems Australia. Among these, Northrop Grumman is responsible for providing the core system of the E-7, namely the L-band multi-mission electronically scanned array (MESA) phased array radar. The radar antenna adopts a main array with front and rear small arrays layout. Its maximum detection range at high altitude is 850 kilometers, with a downlook detection distance of 370 kilometers for fighter-class targets, capable of simultaneously tracking 180 targets and commanding 24 fighter jets. Overall, the detection and command control capabilities of the E-7 can be described as standard. Perhaps the most commendable aspect is the Boeing 737-700 airframe, which is one of the best-selling commercial airliners globally. Not only is its technical reliability and maturity impeccable, but it can also utilize some parts of passenger aircraft standards, thereby reducing costs. This is very important for many countries that need to control costs. Therefore, after the Royal Australian Air Force, South Korea, Turkey, and the UK have successively procured the E-7 to serve as the next generation of their air force's main airborne early warning aircraft. In contrast, the KJ-500 of China uses the world's first three-panel digital array active phased array radar, with gallium nitride technology enhancement, a maximum detection range of 470 kilometers, and the ability to simultaneously track 60 to 100 targets. Although these values appear inferior to the E-7 on paper, the KJ-500 radar uses gallium nitride technology, possessing both anti-stealth and electronic warfare capabilities. Over 50 KJ-500s have already been deployed, and in 2022, General Willsebarth of the U.S. Pacific Air Command acknowledged that the KJ-500 can effectively counter F-35. Does the E-7 have the capability to counter the J-20 or J-35? The KJ-500 is far from the endpoint. According to reports by The War Zone, the new-generation KJ-700 may have already entered service. This aircraft, believed to use a dual-panel active phased array radar and conformal array antennas, strengthens its anti-stealth capability through dual-band enhancement. The newly added electro-optical/infrared sensors not only have the ability to detect low-altitude targets but also possess certain anti-ballistic missile capabilities. The KJ-3000, which made its debut at the end of last year, is believed to be based on the Y-20B platform, using body-conformal antennas and dual-panel rotating arrays to further enhance detection and anti-stealth capabilities, and possessing full-spectrum electronic warfare capabilities. It is believed to be able to suppress F-35 and B-21. The KJ-500 has been in service for nearly a decade, the KJ-700 has been painted in naval gray indicating it has entered service, and the KJ-3000 is likely to enter service within two to three years. What about the E-7? It seems the earliest delivery of the first unit will be in the second half of 2028, by which time potential "airborne early warning aircraft killers" like the J-36 or J-50 might already be entering service. How can the U.S. Air Force face off against the PLA in the Western Pacific with airborne early warning aircraft at least one generation behind? Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7494460248687428136/ Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's personal views. Please express your stance by clicking the "like/dislike" buttons below.