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 KJ-2000 Mainring
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A PLAAF KJ-2000
AWACS was approaching the runway before landing. Its prototype was first spotted undergoing testing in Nanjing in 2003,
carrying a CFTE emblem (S/N 762). The KJ-2000 prototype was based on Russian A-50I airframe but fitted with
an indigenous AEW and a C3I system, including IFF and datalink. The AEW system, developed by Nanjing Research
Institute of Electronic Technology/14th Institute, is presumably similar, but slightly inferior to the Israeli Phalcon
system. It was reported that the system can track "several hundred" aerial targets simultaneously. The aircraft features a
fixed rotodome housing three AESA antennas in a triangular configuration. As the result
a 360° radar coverage can be achieved. A SATCOM antenna is installed inside the fairing on top of the forward cabin.
Two large angled ventral fins are attached underneath the tail to compensate the impact of rotodome on aircraft handling.
A nose-mounted IFR probe (on #762 only) suggests its operations could be further extended with the tanker (Il-78) support.
Following the humiliation of the cancelled A-50I/Phalcon contract with Israel in 2000, China salvaged this A-50I prototype
from Israel via Russia in 2002 without the Phalcon system. It was reported that a significant amount of resources have
been invested into this high-priority project (Project 998?) at the 603 Institute/XAC/14th Institute following an
executive order issued by the Chinese President. The compete system first flew on November 11, 2003 as
KJ-2000 after overcoming various technical difficulities. More
KJ-2000s were converted from the China United Airline
Il-76MD transport fleet, including B-4040 through B-4043. The first two KJ-2000s were handed over to PLAAF in 2005. Currently 4 KJ-2000s are are stationed in Jiangsu Province, facing Japan and
Taiwan (S/N 30071-30074). Additional aircraft may depend on the availability of Y-20 transport aircraft.
- Last Updated 1/2/10 |
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Y-8X Cub
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Y-8X is PLAN's first long-range maritime
patrol aircraft (range 5,600km). It is essentially a Y-8/An-12 transport aircraft equipped with a Litton
AN/APS-504(V)3 surface search radar in an enlarged undernose radome plus western navigational systems for
long range patrols over the sea. The aircraft also carries optical and IR cameras and sonobuoys. One of
the drawbacks is that the aircraft is unarmed, but the it does have the potential to carry a heavy load
of weapons. Around 4 Y-8Xs are believed in service with PLA
Naval Aviation (serial numbers 9261-9291, 9281 later converted to Y-8J) stationed in Shangdong
Province. They have been carrying out series of long-range intelligence gathering missions near the
coast of Japan and South Korea, prompting interceptions by F-15s and F-16s from the two countries. The
latest rumor claimed that an ASW variant of Y-8 (Y-8Q/High New 6?)
similar to American P-3C was developed in 2007 for PLAN.
- Last Updated 8/12/09 |
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Y-8J Cub
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This airborne early warning (AEW) variant of
Y-8 (Project 515) was first spotted near Shanghai in 2000. It may feature a Sky Master surveillance
radar (based upon earlier Search Water radar) housed in a enlarged, slightly dropped nose radome, a
configuration similar to the smaller Britten Norman Defender twinturboprop for ground and maritime patrol
and AEW roles. 6-8 sets of this radar system were purchased by China in 1996 from UK's Racal for $66m. The
Sky Master L band PD radar has a detection range of 85km (look-down mode) or 110km (look-up mode)
against a 5 m2 aerial target, and 230km against a sea surface target. A total of 100 aerial
targets and 32 sea surface targets can be tracked simultaneously. Y-8J also has a limited C&C capability.
The system can direct up to 6 aircraft to intercept enemy aircraft. The first prototype flew on September 26
1998. So far at least 3 Y-8J AEW platforms (S/N 9281,
9301, 9311, 9321)
were converted by Shannxi Aircraft Industry Corporation (SAC) and both are in service with PLAN. It was
speculated that the aircraft could be used to provide targetting information for long-range anti-ship missiles,
but this has not been confirmed. This AEW variant is believed to be far less capable than KJ-2000 AWACS
just entering service with PLAAF but can be regarded as a stop-gap measure for PLAN until the fully capabable
Y-8W AWACS (see below) enters the service.
- Last Updated 1/7/10 |
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Y-8CB Cub/High New 1
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The Y-8CB
ECM variant (K/JYZ-8) was first spotted in Nanjing, Jiangshu Province in July 2005. The aircraft features a ventral
canoe fairing underneath the forward fuselage which may house a large ECM antenna. An antenna array consisting
of serveral rows of samller ECM antennas can be seen protruding out of the rear loading ramp, which is thought
to have been sealed. A few more antennas are located under the fuselage between the main landing gear cabins.
The aircraft may carry the 300 & 308 Systems to jam enemy communication network and radar systems.
The Y-8CB prototype first flew on January 26, 2000. At least 4
(S/N 21011-21013, 5121, 5123?) are in service with PLAAF, replacing
the obsolete HD-5 ECM aircraft. Recent image indicated that some have been upgraded with additional equipment
including a dorsal SATCOM antenna.
- Last Updated 1/16/10 |
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Y-8JB Cub/High New 2
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A new ELINT version of Y-8 was spotted in Summer 2004
near Shanghai. This variant is thought to be called Y-8JB. The aircraft features a large chin mounted
radome which may house a large ELINT antenna. Another SATCOM antenna may be installed inside a large semi-spherical
dorsal fairing forward of the vertical tailfin providing real-time transmission to the ground base. Numerous
smaller fairings can be seen on top of the cabin and along the upper sections of the aft fuselage as well as at
the nose tip. The loading ramp appears to have been sealed. The aircraft has been fitted with a BM/KZ800 ELINT
system. There were speculations that some technologies of this system may have come from the American EP-3 ELINT
aircraft force-landed in Hainan Island in April 2001, suggesting that Chinese may have managed to decipher at least
part of the top-secret US ELINT hardware and software onboard EP-3. The Y-8JB prototype first flew on August
26, 2003 at SAC. Currently 4 aircraft (S/N 9331, 9341, 9351, 9361) are in service with PLA Naval
Aviation. They have flown intelligence gathering missions near Japan. The latest news suggested a Y-8 ELINT design
carrying a simplified KZ800 system has been offered for export.
- Last Updated 6/1/09 |
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Y-8G Cub/High New 3
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A new Y-8G
(K/JYG8) was first unveiled during Chinese Vice Prime Minister's visit to SAC in April 2005. The aircraft
features two large cheek fairings of an arch shape which might house large ECM antenna array for long-range electronic
jamming purpose. The ECM antenna array may be the product of the 14th Institute. It also features a redesigned
solid nose with the undernose radome removed. A large tail fairing may provide 360 degree coverage. Another
cylindical fairing can be seen on top of the vertical tailfin. The Y-8G
prototype first flew in late 2004. Four Y-8Gs have been in service with
PLAAF (S/N 21014-21017). Two more entered the service with PLAAF recently (S/N 5126, 5128).
- Last Updated 1/16/10 |
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Y-8T Cub/High New 4
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A Y-8T C3I airborne command post is shown
here. It has a redesigned real fuselage section with the loading ramp and tail gun turret removed. The aircraft also
features a dorsal fairing aft the wing seciton which might house a SATCOM antenna. Multiple antenna arrays can be seen
along the top and bottom of the fuselage, as well as on the vertical tailfin. Y-8T C3I command post prototype first flew in August 2004 and is
expected to provide better coordiation for PLAAF air operations. Currently three aircraft (S/N 30271-30273) are
in service with PLAAF.
- Last Updated 7/31/09 |
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Y-8W/KJ-200 Cub/High New 5
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A PLAAF Y-8W
AWACS aircraft wearing a blue/gray camouflage color scheme is shown here. This so-called "Balanced Beam
Testbed" bears some resemblance to the Swedish Saab 340 AWACS aircraft with its electronically scanning phased
array radar inside a large rectangular fairing carried above the fuselage. The radar is likely to be the product
of the 38th Institute. The first Y-8 "Balance Beam Testbed" prototype
took off on November 8, 2001 at SAC, after converted from a Y-8F-200 transport aircraft. The production version
(also named KJ-200) is based on the new Y-8 "Catagory III Platform" which has a redesigned fuselage
with a solid nose and a new tail section with the loading ramp removed. Two radomes are located at the nose tip and
tailcone which may house additional antennas to provide full 360° coverage. More fairings can be seen at the
wingtips and on top of the tailfin. A series of small antennas are located on top of the forward fuselage.
It also has an integrated wing fuel tank and 4 high-efficiency JL-4 6-blade propellers giving the aircraft a longer
range and less noise. A C3I center is housed in a pressurized cabin, and a new integrated digital avionics
system based on ARING429 and RS422 databus has been installed. The aircraft also features a glass cockpit. This new type first flew on January 14, 2005 at SAC.
Both Y-8W and KJ-2000 have demonstrated China's determination to
acquire indigenous AWACS capability after the earlier A-50I setback. They were developed in a high-low combination and
is expected to coordinate J-7G, J-8F, J-10, J-11B, JH-7A and H-6M/K via datalinks in the possible air compaigns against
Taiwan. Initially two prototypes were evaluated by PLAAF. However #2 Y-8W
crashed on June 3, 2006 due to wing surface icing -- a serious blow to the indigenous AWACS effort. The production
resumed one year later after some redesign work, including strengthended fuselage and attaching small vertical stablizers
to the tips of its horizontal tailfins. At least three Y-8Ws
have been produced for PLAAF (30173-30175). The latest information suggested that PLAN has taken delivery of two Y-8Ws.
- Last Updated 2/2/10 |
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Y-8XZ Cub/High New 7
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A new Y-8 pychological operation (XZ) variant was unveiled in
April 2008 as one of the newest members of the High New series (High New 7 or K/YXZ8?). The aircraft features
large fairings located forward of the main landing gear compartments, and two large plate antennas on each side of the rear
fuselage. Other features include two blade antennas on both sides of the vertical tailfin, a wire antenna underneath the rear
fuselage, a large SATCOM antenna on top of the rear fuselage. Y-8XZ was developed
to conduct pychological operations against enemy audiance. It has high power broadcast equipement covering AM, FM, SW, TV plus
various civilian and military communication bands, able to jam enemy communications as well as disrupt and demoralize enemy
with overwhelming propaganda brodcastings. Y-8XZ has been in service with PLAAF
(S/N 21110) since end of 2007 and is similar to American EC-130E Rivet Rider.
- Last Updated 4/11/09 |
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J-8FR Finback
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A rare glimpse of J-8FR
(JZ-8F) reconnaissance aircraft is shown here. Based on J-8F, this variant had been rumored for some time but
was not confirmed until 2007. Unlike the earlier J-8R carrying an external camera pod, this dedicated recon aircraft
features an internal camera compartment replacing the original twin 23mm gun compartment underneath the cockpit. As the
result, it is likely to carry out its missions without any weapons, by taking advantage of its high altitude
(20,000m+)/high speed (Mach 2+) capability. Its range can be further extended via inflight refueling. The fairing covering
the cameras was seen having multiple windows of different sizes, suggesting the camera compartment has a modular design which
can carry various cameras in different channels and angles. The optical camera may be based on KA-112A carried by J-8R and is
expected to be more powerful and versatile. An IIR camera or synthetic aperture radar (SAR) may be installed so that the
aircraft can fly missions at night or under poor weather conditions. Additional dorsal antenna (communication?) has been
installed in front of the vertical tailfin. J-8FR was initially powered by two
WP-14A turbojets with increased thrust. However they appear to have been replaced later by WP-13B2 engines due to reliability
problems. J-8FR has entered limited service with PLAAF since 2006 (S/N 501x),
replacing the old J-8R.
- Last Updated 2/28/10 |
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Z-8AEW Super Frelon
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This helicopter recently spotted near CHAIC has been speculated to be the Z-8AEW (Z-18?)
prototype. It features a retractable radar antenna attached to the rear loading ramp door. The radar is thought
to be a long-range multi-mode PD radar. Once the helicopter is in the air, the rotating antenna is lowered
vertically and can provide 360° coverage. The antenna is then retracted upwards after the usage. Z-8AEW
is thought to be developed to support the shipborne J-15 fighter onboard aircraft carrier such as
Varyag. However due to the limited payload and internal space of Z-8, its performance cannot compare to
a fix-wing shipborne AWACS aircraft with a full C3I capability such as American E-2C. Therefore it
is a stop-gap measure until a fix-wing AWACS aircraft (based on MA-60?) enters the
service. The design of Z-8AEW appears similar to French AS-532
Horizon battlefield surveillance helicopter.
- Last Updated 11/11/09 |
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Tu-154M/D Careless
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A number of Tu-154M/Ds (Type I/II) have been converted into ELINT aircraft,
even through they are disguised under the cover of a civilian China United Airline registration.
While Type I were believed to carry a BM/KZ800 ELINT system,
Type II features a canoe shaped fairing under the fuselage which has been speculated to house an
experimental synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to provide
high-resolution ground mapping images, a capability similar to American E-8 J-STARS. Besides the SAR
radar, the aircraft still retains some original EW and ELINT equipment, as indicated by the semi-spherical
fairings and other small antennas under the rear fuselage. So far there are at least 4 of these modified
Tu-154M/Ds (B-4015, B-4024, B-4029 & B-4138).
Tu-154M/D (Type I) first entered the service with PLAAF in 1995.
- Last Updated 11/22/09 |
