Shaanxi KJ-500
Airborne early warning and control aircraft
KJ-500 | |
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KJ-500 | |
Role |
Airborne early warning and control
(AEW&C)
Type of aircraft
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National origin | China |
Manufacturer | Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation |
Number built | 34+ [1] |
Developed from | Shaanxi Y-9 |
The Shaanxi KJ-500 (Chinese: 空警-500; pinyin: Kōngjǐng Wǔbǎi; literally: "Air Warning 500") is a third-generation airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force . It was built by Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation , [2] and is based on the Y-9 airframe .
Development
Since the beginning of the 21st century, the detection range and the accuracy of airborne radars have been increasing, and fighters equipped with various types of air-to-air missiles and low-altitude cruise missiles continue to improve in performance, creating a demand for a more capable AEW&C. To address the above issues, China started the development of the KJ-500, its third AEW&C, in the late 2000s. The KJ-500 was required to have three important features, which are good detection capability, good identification ability, and quick responsiveness. The KJ-500 was also required to be the core force of the information combat system, its equipped technology has four major characteristics, which are networking, multi-functionality, high-integration, and lightweight. [3]
The aircraft carries a fixed dorsal radome containing three AESA radar arrays for 360-degree coverage and is said to be more efficient than the two-planar 'balance beam' array design used on the earlier KJ-200 . Production of older AEW&C types reportedly ceased production in 2018 in response to the KJ-500 reaching full operational capability. [4]
Variants
- KJ-500
- Base variant
- KJ-500A
- Improved variant with an aerial refueling probe. Debut in Zhuhai Airshow 2022. [5]
Operators
- People's Liberation Army Air Force - 20 KJ-500 [1]
- People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force - 14+ KJ-500H [6]
Specifications
Limited performance parameters of KJ-500 have been published as follows: [7]
- Max speed (km/h): 550
- Max range (km): 5700
- Max endurance (h): 12
- Max takeoff weight(tons): 77
- Range against fighter sized targets (km): 470 [8]
References
- 1 2 "6 Asia". The Military Balance 2023 . The International Institute for Strategic Studies . London: Routledge. 15 February 2023. doi : 10.4324/9781003400226 . ISBN 9781003400226 .
- ↑ "空警-500:中国预警机家族新明星" (in Chinese). Xinhua. 31 October 2015. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018 . Retrieved 30 July 2018 .
- ↑ Technology characteristics of the 3rd generation early warning aircraft and its electronic reconnaissance system,ZHEN JunYi, China Academy of Electronics and Science,Beijing 100041,China
- ↑ The Military Balance 2022 . International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 261. ISBN 978-1-032-27900-8 .
- ↑ Trevithick, Joseph (7 November 2022). "All The Air Combat Developments Out Of China's Massive Air Show" . The Drive .
- ↑ The Military Balance 2022 . International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 260. ISBN 978-1-032-27900-8 .
- ↑ "Expert: KJ-500 improves China's overall military power" . China Military Online. 16 February 2016 . Retrieved 30 July 2018 .
- ↑ Lei, zhao (4 September 2015). "PLA deploys advanced jets to boost electronic capability" . China Daily . Retrieved 30 July 2018 .
Chinese
People's Liberation Army
AEW aircraft designations
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Kōng jǐng "KJ"
(Airborne Early Warning) |
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