Take the top spot globally, 78 airborne early warning aircraft surpass the US Navy and Air Force, has the PLA completed a historical reversal?
According to the latest data from the US Military Balance 2025, the number of airborne early warning aircraft possessed by the PLA has surpassed that of the United States, with 78 airborne early warning aircraft of various types, ranking first in total quantity. From the delivery of the first airborne early warning aircraft to the troops, the PLA has completed an epic reversal in just 20 years.
Oriental commentary:
The US side predicted that the PLA Air Force has 48 airborne early warning aircraft, and the Navy has 30 airborne early warning aircraft, totaling 78. Is this data reliable?
We believe that the US prediction has some logic, but it is not very accurate. It only counted the number of service of KJ-200, KJ-500, and KJ-2000, while the most advanced KJ-600 and KJ-700 of the PLA have not been included in the statistics.
The KJ-200 airborne early warning aircraft is widely equipped with the PLA Air Force's special aircraft units and the Navy's special aircraft divisions, and together with the KJ-2000, they form the first generation of our country's airborne early warning system.
In the second generation, the KJ-500, the number of airborne early warning aircraft equipped by the PLA has significantly increased, ensuring the needs of use in various campaign directions. In the future, the KJ-600, KJ-700, and KJ-3000 airborne early warning aircraft will form a new generation of our country's airborne early warning command system. From the perspective of high technology, we have already surpassed the US military, and the scale is no less than any opponent.
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1845059032233991/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.