After conducting the maiden flight of two of its cutting-edge sixth-generation fighter jets, China has sprung another surprise with its new KJ-3000 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft taking to the skies for the first time.
The maiden flight of the aircraft was reportedly conducted by the X’ian Aircraft Company. Though details are scant and the exact flight date is unknown, it is believed to have been conducted very recently.
A few pixelated photos of the KJ-3000 in flight were published on social media and shared widely on December 27, with military watchers calling it “another surprise” by China.
China has not officially confirmed the first flight of the KJ-3000 aircraft, which will significantly enhance its early warning capabilities. However, the development has thrilled the PLA commentators and military experts, with one X user quipping, “It has been quite a week for China watchers.”
A day ago, on December 26, social media platform X was flooded with images and videos featuring Chengdu Aerospace Corporation’s (CAC) sixth-generation fighter jet in flight, which was seen soaring alongside China’s fifth-generation J-20S (a twin-seat variant of its Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth fighter).
Even as the netizens and analysts were still discussing the surprising maiden flight of CAC’s sixth-generation aircraft, the internet was shortly flooded with images of another sixth-generation fighter jet developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC). A detailed EurAsian Times coverage of the first flight of both next-generation fighter prototypes can be read here.
Since the first flight of KJ-3000 came right after 6th-gen fighters, some analysts humorously suggested that China should conduct the first flight of its next-generation H-20 stealth bomber before the end of this year to complete the pack.
What Do We Know About The KJ-3000?
The KJ-3000 is based on the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Y-20 transport aircraft and is the latest addition to China’s “eye in the sky” arsenal of early warning aircraft.
Chinese military aviation specialist Andreas Rupprecht said: “Ok, it goes on and on and on: second surprise this morning, the new KJ-3000 (?) AEW performed its maiden flight at XAC, and from what can be seen on the first few small & blurry images, it is, as expected, a Y-20B-based design featuring a large rotodome but also a bulge on the tail.”
The rotodome is a discus-shaped rotating radome that allows the detection and tracking of targets by providing 360-degree coverage. Some experts speculate that the bulge on the tail may be related to the integration of some advanced communication systems.
The aircraft is powered by the domestically-produced WS-20 high-bypass turbofan engine, like the Y-20B transport aircraft that it is based on. It is anticipated to generate approximately 31,000 pounds of thrust. As per some unconfirmed claims, the aircraft would have a detection range exceeding 360 kilometers to 500 kilometers.
Notably, the KJ-3000’s first flight comes amid speculations that the Y-20B transport aircraft may have been inducted into service. As reported by EurAsian Times recently, Y-20B was spotted at the Kaifeng Air Base in the east-central Henan region of China.
Though the specifics of the KJ-3000 aircraft are not known due to the paucity of information, EurAsian Times understands that in addition to developing a whole-new next-generation AEW&C aircraft from scratch known as the KJ-700, China has also been working on developing an AEW&C aircraft based on an existing platform.
For instance, Macau-based military aviation expert Antony Wong Tong hinted at the existence of the aircraft in 2022 when he said, “China is developing its new generation KJ-3000 strategic early-warning aircraft, which needs a bigger platform, but the country doesn’t have big aircraft like its American counterpart, so the Y-20 would be the only option.”
The KJ-3000 is expected to be comparable to the existing KJ-2000, the largest dedicated AEW&C aircraft in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) inventory. Some reports suggest that the KJ-3000 will eventually replace the KJ-2000.
The KJ-3000 can carry more payload—up to 66 tons— 16 tons more than the KJ-2000. Moreover, the WS-20 engines provide more thrust and fuel efficiency, enabling longer flight operations.
The aircraft could operate as a complete command center since it integrates C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) technologies, allowing for better coordination between the land, sea, and air domains. This would enhance the PLAAF’s ability to execute missions and improve combat effectiveness on the battlefield. The KJ-3000 is expected to strengthen China’s air defense by flying alongside cutting-edge fighter jets in combat.
With an AEW&C fleet that already dwarfs the United States, China has been making concerted efforts to develop newer early warning aircraft on existing designs.
The primary objective of an AEW&C aircraft is to use its powerful radars to monitor large swathes of the airspace and scan and detect hostile aerial targets.
Due to their “look-down capability,” they can detect low-flying aircraft and missiles that surface and land-based radars would otherwise miss due to the horizon or topography. They can classify and examine such targets by using their own radar and fighter interceptors that passively detect radio frequency signals across long distances. This makes an AEW&C aircraft indispensable in combat.
That said, while China’s fighter jet designs continue to hog the limelight, its expanding AEW&C fleet does not get the same attention.
China’s Existing Early Warning Aircraft Fleet
China has reliable early warning capability, with the KJ-2000 based on the Il-76 platform and the KJ-500 on the Shaanxi Y-9 aircraft. The PLAAF also operates the KJ-200 based on the Y-8 aircraft.
While the KJ-2000 is a large platform, the KJ-200 and KJ-500 are relatively smaller. They are considered to be ideal for regional operations, including in volatile areas like the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.
China is also developing the KJ-600 for carrier-based operations that would give the PLA Navy a massive reach and detect incoming threats from even further away, allowing it to project power over regions far away from its coast.
Earlier this year, reports indicated that the aircraft was undergoing flight testing. Chinese state media posits that China’s strategic position in the seas will be buttressed with the anticipated integration of the KJ-600 into People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) operations, allowing it to improve its aerial command and maritime surveillance capabilities.
With tensions raging in the Indo-Pacific, a carrier-based AEW&C aircraft could be the key to conducting operations against the adversary. Experts pointed out that coordination between carrier-based fighter jets and early warning aircraft will speed up upgrading China’s combat capabilities.
Adding a large, land-based early warning aircraft with sophisticated radomes providing extended coverage to this mix is expected to bolster China’s “eyes in the sky” significantly.
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