PLA AEW&C, SIGINT, EW and MPA thread

lcloo

lcloo

Captain
Deino said:
Just a question regarding the latest PLAAF AEW/AWACS-developments:

To admit I'm a bit surprised (maybe even diappointed) to see that once again a Y-8/-9-based design !

YES, the 'Cub' is a reliable and even more cheep platform with a spacious volume ... but I had hoped to see a more modern design similar to the Israeli G550 AEW !!

Any thougths from You ?

Deino
Click to expand...

Costs and reliability are likely the factors why existing old aircrafts airframes designs are used for new low volume production specialised aircrafts.

Examples are P-3 Orion, the prototype first flew in 1959, and is actually based on airframe of Lockheed L-188 ELectra (first flown in 1957). Then there is E-2 Hawkeye which first flew in 1960. Also, C-130 and 707 jets also have AEW variants as well.
 
T

Totoro

Major
VIP Professional
You're talking about the platform that awacs uses, is that right? If not y8 family, just what other option is available to China in the near term? I know not of a single alternative. Western made planes are prohibited, one can't just use a b737 and turn it into an awacs without manufacturer's consent.

Il76? Already tried, and for whatever reason no more than initial 4 were repurposed. Perhaps there's not enough well maintined but used il76 on the market. or the il76 is too much plane for a modern day awacs.

Domestic civilian airliners are not ready yet for the short term. Large business jets like the mentioned g550 are not available to china to repurpose, just like b737.

I guess something like tu-204 or the sort would be workable, but it takes years to repurpose such a platform. By the time that's done, maybe there'll be other options available as well.

So, better to use y8/y9 than to wait several years with no new awacs platforms.
 
I

i.e.

Senior Member
Deino said:
Just a question regarding the latest PLAAF AEW/AWACS-developments:

To admit I'm a bit surprised (maybe even diappointed) to see that once again a Y-8/-9-based design !

YES, the 'Cub' is a reliable and even more cheep platform with a spacious volume ... but I had hoped to see a more modern design similar to the Israeli G550 AEW !!

Any thougths from You ?

Deino
Click to expand...

ARJ21?...

but it is full of western sub suppliers that it would be impossible to do it on a large scale.

My suggestion is to buy up a large fleet of old cargo 737s on the open market and use it as a none-authorized fleet for AWACS conversion.
but boeing would be (fainting) furious.
 
Blitzo

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
As nice as it would be to have a commercial airliner based AEWC, right now PLAAF is still more interested in acquiring large scale AEWC capability.

Sure an airframe which can fly higher, cruise a little faster, with greater fuel efficiency and less drag would be optimal, but there's nothing damning with the Category III airframe. It's a larger plane than most smaller business jet derived AEWC, meaning more work stations, more rest areas, etc which all translate to greater endurance. While KJ-200 and KJ-500 can't cruise as high or as fast as a gulfstream, it makes up for it with a greater range and endurance, not to mention costs overall are lowered across all Category III GX variants due to common airframe. PLA also thus has greater flexibility, if they feel their AEWC quota has been met, they can allocate the production line to produce all Y-8FQs for a year instead.


Yep, PLA should be more interested in garnering a larger AEWC fleet first. They've got 4 KJ-2000s and some 12 KJ-200s in service already. With KJ-500 coming down the line to replace KJ-200 production, we can probably expect another ten or so produced this decade. That will easily give the PLA the world's second most capable large AEWC fleet behind USAF. So what if they're based on Y-9s instead of 737?


(Although I hope PLA has had the foresight to allow a refuelling probe to be added to all of their AEWC birds. They lack the tankers to fully support them at present, but the flexibility will be a big boon)
 
I

i.e.

Senior Member
Bltizo said:
As nice as it would be to have a commercial airliner based AEWC, right now PLAAF is still more interested in acquiring large scale AEWC capability.

Sure an airframe which can fly higher, cruise a little faster, with greater fuel efficiency and less drag would be optimal, but there's nothing damning with the Category III airframe. It's a larger plane than most smaller business jet derived AEWC, meaning more work stations, more rest areas, etc which all translate to greater endurance. While KJ-200 and KJ-500 can't cruise as high or as fast as a gulfstream, it makes up for it with a greater range and endurance, not to mention costs overall are lowered across all Category III GX variants due to common airframe. PLA also thus has greater flexibility, if they feel their AEWC quota has been met, they can allocate the production line to produce all Y-8FQs for a year instead.


Yep, PLA should be more interested in garnering a larger AEWC fleet first. They've got 4 KJ-2000s and some 12 KJ-200s in service already. With KJ-500 coming down the line to replace KJ-200 production, we can probably expect another ten or so produced this decade. That will easily give the PLA the world's second most capable large AEWC fleet behind USAF. So what if they're based on Y-9s instead of 737?


(Although I hope PLA has had the foresight to allow a refuelling probe to be added to all of their AEWC birds. They lack the tankers to fully support them at present, but the flexibility will be a big boon)
Click to expand...


that's right by operating a large fleet now and not wait for a perfect platform they can 1) develop the radar system in evolution 2) develop operational insight in using the system..

by going to a jet fleet they would gain some ceiling on the platform hence a better range coverage but that is it.
 
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