China’s AEW&C KJ-3000 air-to-surface combat aircraft

By chankaiyee2 on June 6, 2013 • ( 7 )

CRI Online, a key news website of China’s Central authority run by China Radio International, says in its report titled “Chinese military expert: Improved version of KJ-2000 specialised in directing air-to-surface combat,” The new type of airborne early warning & control aircraft (AEW&C) disclosed this time is called by military fans the ‘KJ-3000’.

Military experts are of the opinion that the naming of this type of AEW&C is not important. What is important is that the new type of AEW&C has greatly enhanced Chinese air force’s and navy’s capability of both attack and defense in air combat.

Associate Professor Ge Lide of the National Defence University said, ‘…As far as I know, this new AEW&C uses our homegrown Y-9 transport as the carrier. Compared with the Y-8 used by the KJ-2000, there is a significant increase in load, range and endurance.

‘At the same time, we see that it uses the large mushroom-shaped antenna of the KJ-2000 with long range and relatively strong ability of multi-target identification and tracking. It is entirely capable of both detecting targets and directing and commanding battle. In other words, the AEW&C can not only rapidly detect enemy targets coming to attack us from far away, but also distribute targets among our fighter jets and guide them to intercept and hit those targets in the air.’

Research fellow Du Wenlong of the Academy of Military Sciences, believes that in the future, ‘the KJ-3000 will perhaps mainly guide air-to-surface combat, and thus provide a better basis for the combat capability of the Chinese air force. Judging by its functions, the KJ-2000 is an AEW&C that detects and gives guidance in air combat.

‘It has to be improved, if we are to give further play of its potential and develop a weapon we lack in conducting long-distance reconnoitre and accurate positioning of land targets, and giving guidance in attacking them. From this point of view, the KJ-3000 should be a rival to the US E8. Its major function is to give guidance not in air combat, but in air-to-surface combat.

‘If our air force is equipped with such AEW&C, there will be highly efficient early warning and guidance for our air formation in conducting air-to-surface and air-to-ship attacks. This indicates the commencement of connection between our air force and land combat capabilities and a very satisfactory foundation laid in this respect.’

Experts said that, along with the successful trial flights of China’s Y-20, in the future China can develop its AEW&C on the basis of the Y-20, which means there will be a larger carrier for China’s AEW&C to carry more weapons and equipment, and significantly enhance its detecting ability, endurance and directing and guiding ability.

Source: CRI Online “Chinese military expert: Improved version of KJ-2000 specialized in directing air-to-surface combat”

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