There is more to an AWACS platform than just the radar. You have the operators directing air traffic and coordinating missions. Replacing this with drones is simply not doable. At best you can use drones to extend the sensor envelope but they can't do the coordination.
China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft
- Thread starter Totoro
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antiterror13
Brigadier
Well, you could put much bigger and much more powerful AESA radar and also you could more engineers there and much more electronics, even supercomputer. Also, extended range and ..... perhaps some SAM, just in case
That is why the command role will be delegated to VLO manned aircraft (mostly made up of fighters, but maybe also bombers) operating in the battle space that are comprehensively datalinked with each other to allow the command role to be pushed downwards in a more distributed manner rather than keeping it all in a big, slow, manned aircraft with a large crew.
I'm sorry if I'm clogging up this thread. May I know where I can buy a model toy of a Y20 AWACs version with the huge circular radar on top? It would look really pretty
And simply put the command team back I'm a true command center where they would belong. Nowadays biggest hurdle is bandwidth. Standards for data transfert along several platforms already exist for both civilian and military. What is needed right now is making sure information is going through, so why waste money on a silver goose when you need more nodes in your cyberspace, which is now intertwined with the true battlespace.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
It’s operations in Tibet prove that it’s capable of a wide array of operations. Y9 Y8 are both derived from the AN12 which was the Soviet answer to the C130. India has made extensive use of the AN12 for its needs so we know that it’s able to operate in Hot and high as well as very high.
Just not doable today, Increasingly Datalinks are taking over from operators with computers or data relayed to a control center on the ground. Currently though the power requirements for an AEW drone are just not there.
Most drones even jet powered are still single engine. Most AEW are twin as the radar is quite power hungry. Fifth generation fighters and likely Sixth generation will be designed less dependent on AWACS due to the fact that the AWACS are high signature targets.
Many are talking about moving the next development of Awacs to satellite based operations. It’s immature at this point but possible.
Yes I covered that. However it’s questionable as already the Radar on AWACS are exceptionally powerful. Why would you need bigger?
Not sure what more Engineers would do for you. Unless you me operators okay but It seems like even Kj500 has the space for a rest area where more crew could be waiting to switch with the active one.
More electronics is an option I covered that as an option IE a multi model theater control. The SAAB Globaleye is capable of both AWACS and Surface scan. But generally you run into issues of interference the more different sensors you add.
They already have excellent computers in modern aviation and AEWs short of a quantum computer. Problem is that the Uber fast super complicated computer systems are sensitive to power and delicate to the point that operating on a plane is out of the question. A couple hard bumps the whole thing shatters.
Range could be achieved by many means not just brute forcing of a bigger aircraft. I have pointed this out a number of times but if it’s all about range take the Y20 airframe and build a tanker. That would increase your range and time of operating to be maximized only by the human crew.
It’s an Aircraft any missiles on it would be Air to air. But what does it buy you? Not a lot more trade offs than trade ons. Besides the main threat isn’t a fighter sneaking in to make a close kill that could be swatted by a missile shot it’s a fighter launching an anti radar missile from long range and letting the Giant radar on top of the plane guide it in to the kill. Countermeasure are an option but you don’t need a huge quad jet for those.
One of the best thing would be to combine refueling with awac so he can refuel his escorts fighters.
No, it doesn't. The details would be best known to PLAAF. How good is the engine functioning, takeoff and landing performance, space constraints (if any), power consumptions, electronics/ processing, and more importantly whether a bigger and more powerful radar is required for operations against India ( which is on a buying spree to create a mini United Nations airforce ) or Japan or US ( which has stealth fighters)...
The hints about a variant of Y20 devoted to AEWCS was let out by insiders in China's MIC and not created by any one in this forum. Why would the PLA need it? They'd best know. We can stay and guess though.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
Until it’s built it’s hints of a concept. Yet concepts don’t always succeed or go beyond study or even a one off prototype.
The Idea of an AWACS Y20 has been advocated by watchers before hints. With the question of why avoided. Despite the fact it’s very valid. What would a Y20 AWACS do that a Kj500 can’t? Using what we know the general answer is nothing.
The Idea of an AWACS Y20 has been advocated by watchers before hints. With the question of why avoided. Despite the fact it’s very valid. What would a Y20 AWACS do that a Kj500 can’t? Using what we know the general answer is nothing.
the Problem is that every time the fighters come in for refueling they would have to shut off the radar. AWACS when they refuel ha be to power down the radar now you have the inverse. It would limit the effectiveness of the system. Additionally you make aircraft more complicated as you are not only adding the refueling pods but the Radar and communications plus the work stations on top of the AWACS crew you now have the fueling specialist and the whole thing is getting very heavy.
Using what I know, it is about bringing a bigger more powerful radar and better electronics with a spacious airframe. We do know that China can bring a more powerful and bigger radar (KJ2000) and wanted to build them more but was limited by unavailable airframes to modify.
Maybe they also want a C&C airborne post.
And ofcourse, about future developments - will the Y9 be upto the challenge ?
So it is not nothing, based on what we know.