yuxiaochen
Junior Member
now that's a long schlong
PLA AEW&C, SIGINT, EW and MPA thread
- Thread starter Sczepan
- Start date
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
Turbo prob is more efficient than jet engine by far So what are you complaining about It is not as fast that is the downside. They don't carry missile I think. But other than that it is ok Japan has 100 of those P3 still operating.
Plus it has short landing and take off capability in case they have to take off from emergency landing strip or highway
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
China's world-leading KJ-500 early warning has a new variation capable of receiving aerial refueling, which will greatly extend the aircraft's range and endurance. The model is expected to be deployed in the South China Sea: report
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Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
I think most armies worldwide use turboprop planes for early warning systems, since these planes are designed for range and endurance, not speed.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
Sorry but thank you for playing.
turboprop AEWs that went to production And are in active service other than China are E2 (6 active operators), Erieye (8 active) , Argus (4 active).
The Chinese Of course KJ500 and KJ200 both based off Y8 or Y9 themselves Based off An12.
20 users.
Jet powered? E3 (6 operators counting NATO as a single operator, and Japanese E767 are really just E3 in the newer bird), IAI El/m2075 Boeing 707 (2 operators, barely), IAI El/W 2085 Gulfstream (6 operators counting the USN), 737 AEW&C Wedgetail (3 active 1 pending), Embraer E99 (4 operators.), Globaleye Bombardier 6000 (1 UAE), A50 (4 operators counting Indian and Chinese varieties as we are more interested in the aircraft than the avionics)
23-24 users.
Not counting one offs like rumored DPRK or Iranian indigenous types that may or may not exist or Prototypes like C295 AEW, Kj600). The rest? Helicopters or no Airforce, at least not one worth the name.
It becomes clear that Jet aircraft by users outnumber turboprops. Now you could generate numbers of active turboprop powered vs jet powered but E2 would skew the numbers if we just counted numbers built over 300 E2 were built ( the majority now retired) where the rest are significantly less. The one outlier by virtue of the stress of carrier Landing operations.
But Jets out number by users active AEW types of turbo props.
Why is that? First The majority are Converted airliners or Business Jets. Although again E2 skews the numbers the rest other than Chinese are short hop regional liners. Jets in general are faster true yet that really isn’t relevant. AWACS are not really pushing the throttle and efficient cruising speeds between airliner are not so significantly a difference.
Jets are however very fuel efficient and easy on maintenance. Far more so than many here seem to think. Remember that in airliner livery these birds regularly cross the span of the planet far more so than their military siblings. Have to be commercially cost effective on repair and fuel as well as meet global Environmental standards. Second Jets power more. The systems That classify the mission are power hungry. Third they have longer ranges.
Il76 however stands alone as the only Jet transport on the list With E2, Y8/Y9 sitting in the turboprop class. Although it was used by the Soviets as an airliner, it was favored more by commonality in the Russian forces and exports. As well as both An12 and Il76 for tactical short or rough strip.
The Turboprop favors short take offs and shorter ranges. This is likely why the PLAAF chose the Y8.
It’s similar to why for a time the USCG operated C130 AEWs for counter narcotics operations. Rapid short take offs from shorter USCG stations allowing more time on station and faster rotation. As well as commonality with established lifters. For the PRC these offer operations off the short island air stations. For control off the shore.
They also were the only large indigenous airframes at the time when the PRC lacked an indigenous jet powered liner or transport. Depending on Russian made Il76 or modifying Airbus or Boeing Jets just wasn’t a viable option.
With the Emergence of Y20 (closer in class to A50/KJx000 class) or Comac C919 (twin engine more fuel efficiency) it may shift away from the Y8/Y9 awacs so sure up the AEW fleet perhaps start expanding the Y9 to tanker or tactical roles, however that’s conjecture on my part.
The C919 has too many American components which are embargoed against military use.
For tanker use, I see very few cases where the Y-9 is better than a Y-20.
Large vulnerable tanker aircraft are best based in the Chinese interior, so a faster and larger aircraft works out as more effective and efficient in delivering lots of fuel.