PLA AEW&C, SIGINT, EW and MPA thread
- Thread starter Sczepan
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An alleged new photo of the KJ-3000. Not sure whether the photo is authentic or PS-ed. Posted by @这丫头有点风 on Weibo.
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Just saw Cute Orca quote-posted the photos on Weibo, so I believe these photos are real.
Speaking of which, notice the nose and tail sections.
Well, the nose looks almost the same but for the tail I‘m not sure if there are only two fins attached or if there is even a bulge/array on its own?!!
Refuelling probe invisible from this angle?
Saw a few comments which claimed that the nose looks to be bigger.
Though, from what my eyes can tell, the nose does look to be somewhat protruding-ish from the rest of the airframe, though not necessarily bigger than other Y(Y)-20/A/Bs.
Perhaps my observation also has something to do with the poor quality of the photo, though we can only wait for clearer photos in the future to be sure of that.
There is definitely something mounted at the tail section, as noted in one of my recent posts.
@斯文的土匪-- on Weibo believes that module to be a large EO sensor system, which is similar (if not larger and more powerful/capable) than the one mounted on the nose of the KJ-700. Though, the exact build and purpose of said module remains to be verified.
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Any speculation on the amount of KJ-3000 they will build? Will it still be a high-low setup with a large amount KJ-700 and small amount of KJ-3000 like the current KJ-2000 or are they just going to do their own thing and build a few dozen KJ-3000.
The nose contains an EO sensor for tracking stealth assets at long range.
Considering the number of KJ-2000 (~4), E-3 (68) and A-50 AEW&C (~40) airframes delivered globally over the decades, as well as the number of E-7A Wedgetails (26) reportedly planned for the USAF, my hunch is that the average PLA theater command will at most receive a handful of KJ-3000 airframes and that's being generous.
Not too sure just how pricey the KJ-3000 is, but the USAF and ROKAF are reportedly paying ~$1.25 billion USD per Wedgetail.
One would expect the KJ-3000 to be significantly more cost effective given prevailing trends, but even at a third of the price of the E-7A, it's likely PLAAF orders will at most be in the dozens rather than in the hundreds.
Really? So similar like the KJ-700's strange sensor?
This is based on rumours only or do I miss an image?
