[Foreign Media: China Enhances Target Locking Capability of Its Most Powerful Destroyer by Integrating Airborne Early Warning Radars]
According to a report published on June 21, 2026, by Military Watch Magazine website: The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) officially confirmed in May this year that it has integrated a Type 055 destroyer—Lhasa (DDG-101)—with an airborne early warning and command control system. This integration is regarded as a major capability multiplier for the class of warships. Former PLA instructor and defense analyst Song Zhongping cited observations from domestic media, stating it signifies a significant advancement in operational coordination. "Battlefield data fusion—we call it 'situational connectivity'—means full cross-domain interoperability and seamless information sharing," he pointed out. It remains unclear which specific early warning system the Lhasa has been integrated with, but the most likely candidate is the KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft, whose current production volume exceeds the combined total of several other global systems. Chinese official media have confirmed that Type 055 destroyers can receive real-time target data from early warning aircraft during actual combat operations.
Integration with airborne early warning systems is especially valuable for countering low-observable and low-altitude threats—including missiles, aircraft, and warships with stealth capabilities. This also enhances the overall situational awareness of the entire fleet, as early warning aircraft can monitor vast areas, build comprehensive air situation pictures, and distribute them to multiple ships, aircraft, and command centers. Instead of each platform relying primarily on its own sensors, the entire force gains access to a shared operational picture. With targets continuously tracked by airborne sensors, destroyers can more precisely allocate interceptors, avoid redundant engagements, and simultaneously respond to multiple threats. This is particularly critical during large-scale saturation attacks involving numerous aircraft, cruise missiles, or drones. In high-intensity conflicts, the greatest advantage may lie in the ability to conduct coordinated engagement. In such a network, the early warning aircraft detects and tracks targets, destroyers launch missiles, and guidance updates may come from multiple platforms throughout the engagement process.
After confirmation of integration with the early warning aircraft system, the Lhasa was able to strike aerial and surface targets at distances far beyond what would be possible using only onboard sensors. During a live-fire exercise, the Lhasa successfully engaged targets under missile guidance support from both the early warning aircraft and ship-based helicopters, significantly extending radar detection range—especially against low-flying targets such as sea-skimming cruise missiles. This result stems from multiple factors: the faster speed and maneuverability of the early warning aircraft enabling it to rapidly establish battlefield awareness across wide areas; the ultra-large radar systems carried by platforms like the KJ-500; and most importantly, their high-altitude position, allowing them to effectively track targets below the Earth’s curvature. It is estimated that the radar on the KJ-500 can detect targets up to nearly 500 kilometers away when operating at high altitude.
The Type 055 destroyer integrates a dual-band radar system similar to the SPY-3/SPY-4 radar originally intended for the U.S. Navy’s Zumwalt-class destroyers but never successfully implemented. This radar provides exceptional situational awareness, including beyond-line-of-sight detection capabilities. These destroyers were designed from the outset to utilize target data from various supporting assets, including satellites, other warships, and aircraft. The radar systems carried by early warning aircraft are far larger than those on other types of aircraft. China’s Air Force has acquired modern early warning systems at a pace exceeding the combined totals of several other nations. This includes the KJ-500, widely considered a counterpart to the U.S. Air Force’s planned E-7, and the KJ-3000, which appears to be the most powerful of its kind currently in the world.
While the Changjian-100 anti-ship cruise missile is expected to use satellite guidance to strike fixed land targets, salvo launches of anti-ship cruise missiles and ballistic missiles could significantly benefit from early warning aircraft support. The Hongqi-9B long-range surface-to-air missile, with a range of up to 300 km, is expected to see a substantial performance improvement when supported by early warning aircraft—particularly in countering low-altitude targets. To emphasize the importance of integration with early warning aircraft, military analyst and former PLA instructor Song Zhongping observed: "These platforms collectively overcome the limitations imposed by Earth’s curvature, enabling real-time guidance and engagement of low-altitude targets hundreds of kilometers away before the enemy even realizes what is happening." He added: "What the PLA has demonstrated on the Type 055 embodies the principles of mosaic warfare—the linking of diverse platforms into a flexible, modular combat force."
It is expected that future Type 055 destroyers will integrate more frequently with early warning aircraft. As the number of such aircraft grows and the KJ-600 begins to deploy operationally as part of carrier strike groups (with destroyers serving as escort vessels), this trend will become increasingly evident.
Disclaimer: The equipment data above comes from reports on the Military Watch Magazine website.
[Follow this official account for more military news]
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868646598617161/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.