[US media: Clear exposure of KJ-3000! China's "multi-track advancement" to construct a large fleet of airborne early warning aircraft.] According to reports from The Warzone, an American military news website, high-definition photos of China's latest-generation heavy-class airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, the KJ-3000 (KJ-3000), have recently surfaced. This new type of early warning aircraft, which is modified based on the four-engine transport aircraft Y-20, will become the "jewel in the crown" of China's rapidly expanding fleet of airborne early warning aircraft.
The latest images released by US media show the KJ-3000 early warning aircraft parked at an undisclosed airbase of the Chinese Air Force. The aircraft is still covered with primer, and its tail number 7821 and the large circular radar housing at the rear of the fuselage are clearly visible. It is equipped with an aerial refueling probe above the nose and numerous antennas on the upper front fuselage. A large intake has been added to the base of the vertical stabilizer, possibly used to cool the large amount of electronic equipment inside the cabin.
The KJ-3000 early warning aircraft has long been considered a new platform developed to complement the current KJ-2000 early warning aircraft. Due to the scarcity of KJ-2000 early warning aircraft and their reliance on Russian supply chains for maintenance, the large-scale service of domestically produced KJ-3000 early warning aircraft holds significant meaning. Additionally, the KJ-3000 early warning aircraft also has potential export prospects, with countries such as Pakistan seen as potential buyers. Pakistan has already adopted China-made radar early warning aircraft, which played a crucial role in recent conflicts with India. If the KJ-3000 early warning aircraft enters the export market, it is expected to attract attention from countries looking to strengthen their airborne early warning capabilities.
The US media noted that it is unclear whether the KJ-3000 early warning aircraft surpasses the capabilities of the KJ-2000 early warning aircraft. However, considering that the KJ-2000 has been in service for nearly 20 years, performance upgrades are inevitable. The active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar of the KJ-2000 consists of three antennas housed in a fixed radome, with a maximum detection range approaching 480 kilometers, capable of simultaneously tracking hundreds of targets. Current imagery shows that the KJ-3000 may adopt a dual-antenna design, but this has yet to be confirmed. The KJ-3000 early warning aircraft is equipped with high-performance engines and aerial refueling devices, which are expected to significantly extend its time aloft and expand its operational radius in the future.
In addition, the KJ-3000 early warning aircraft is almost certainly not just a radar platform but also possesses multiple mission capabilities including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). More importantly, it has network node functionality, enabling it to integrate and relay combat information from various platforms, making it of extremely high strategic value to the Chinese People's Liberation Army. These node-type early warning aircraft play a key role in vast regions like the Indo-Pacific theater, helping to enhance joint operations efficiency across services and regions.
The US media pointed out that China is currently adopting a multi-track strategy to develop its early warning aircraft fleet. According to the "China Military Power Report" submitted to Congress last year by the US Department of Defense, China continues to rapidly produce and deploy the KJ-500 early warning aircraft, which is the most advanced early warning aircraft currently in service in China. Together with the earlier KJ-2000 early warning aircraft and the KJ-200 series, they form a large early warning system. The newly revealed heavy platform KJ-3000 early warning aircraft, along with a large number of KJ-700 early warning aircraft based on the Yun-9, greatly enhance the PLA's ability to detect, track, and strike aerial targets in various battlefield environments and expand the depth and breadth of the overall air defense network.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833466205376519/
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