PLA AEW&C, SIGINT, EW and MPA thread

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Since @Deino posted this on Twitter, I'd like to share it here too.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1625917695123128325

American counterparts for reference, according to variant:
01 - ASW maritime patrol aircraft - Boeing P-8 Poseidon
02 - ELINT and EW aircraft - Boeing RC-135
03 - AEW&C aircraft - Boeing E-7 Wedgetail
04 - Executive transport aircraft - Boeing C-32

All 4 PLA variants based on the C919 are definitely viable (since this is how most of the world does these kinds of platforms anyway), but we may have to wait until the late-2020s at the earliest to see them being realized, since there are still tons of stuff onboard the C919 that needs to be fully indigenized.

In the meantime, now we wait for the C929 to enter service in the 2030s at the earliest (very late, unfortunately )... So that China can have her own counterparts to the Boeing VC-25 presidental transport aircraft and the Boeing E-4 Nightwatch strategic C&C aircraft...

 

[Deino]

Since @Deino posted this on Twitter, I'd like to share it here too.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1625917695123128325

View attachment 107368

American counterparts for reference, according to variant:
01 - ASW maritime patrol aircraft - Boeing P-8 Poseidon
02 - ELINT and EW aircraft - Boeing RC-135
03 - AEW&C aircraft - Boeing E-7 Wedgetail
04 - Executive transport aircraft - Boeing C-32

All 4 PLA variants based on the C919 are definitely viable (since this is how most of the world does these kinds of platforms anyway), but we may have to wait until the late-2020s at the earliest to see them being realized, since there are still tons of stuff onboard the C919 that needs to be fully indigenized.

In the meantime, now we wait for the C929 to enter service in the 2030s at the earliest (very late, unfortunately )... So that China can have her own counterparts to the Boeing VC-25 presidental transport aircraft and the Boeing E-4 Nightwatch strategic C&C aircraft...

As much as I would love to see a C919 in PLAAF colours and even more in different roles, I fear, the still too high content of Western components will prevent this for the foreseeable future.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

As much as I would love to see a C919 in PLAAF colours and even more in different roles, I fear, the still too high content of Western components will prevent this for the foreseeable future.

Speaking of which, here's something to think about:

Let's say, the West decides to completely cut off China's C919 from accessing Western components, today - Is COMAC capable of finding one-to-one indigenous substitutions to those Western components for the C919, and still make the C919 functional and operable? That is, even if/with the indigenously-substituted components have lower performance attributes (but still perfectly functional and properly following all required safety standards) than their original Western counterparts?

Wondering if anyone knows the answer?

On the other hand, if China is suddenly forced to be self-reliant of everything related to COMAC C919, and is capable of doing so without too much hiccups and setbacks, then we might be able to see PLA variants of the C919 appearing much quicker than projected. The reason? Once that happens, China certainly can just give two hoots about the Western restrictions on what the C919 can be and cannot be used for, so there's that.

Of course, I'm not suggesting that China should deliberately do anything that would directly result in the COMAC C919 losing all access to Western compoments before local suppliers in China are fully geared-up to pick up the slack, but I think now is the time to ponder about this possibility, considering the skyrocketing Western hostility against China in recent years.

Either way, feel free to chip in your thoughts on the matter.

 

[HKSDU]

Too much risk of embargo, that will hamper the commercial market

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Too much risk of embargo, that will hamper the commercial market

Once the West has decided to unilaterally and completely cut off C919's access to Western components, what else is there for China to worry about developing military platforms based on the C919?

In this scenario, the West is the one who draw first blood, not China.

As soon as the West does that, it is only a matter of time before they ban C919 from flying in their airspaces too. Furthermore, the West already has Boeing and Airbus, and unless Boeing and/or Airbus collapses (which is basically impossible unless their countries disintegrate and/or go bankrupt), COMAC would be hitting a wall if they try to sell their planes in the West anyway.

On the other hand, Chinese planes can still be flown elsewhere outside of the West, as long as all proper safety requirements are fulfilled and safety standards are met. This is also why Russian planes from the Soviet-era are still flown outside of Russia today, although in vastly reduced numbers.

 

[Hitomi]

Once the West has decided to unilaterally and completely cut off C919's access to Western components, what else is there for China to worry about developing military platforms based on the C919?

In this scenario, the West is the one who draw first blood, not China.

As soon as the West does that, it is only a matter of time before they ban C919 from flying in their airspaces too. Furthermore, the West already has Boeing and Airbus, and unless Boeing and/or Airbus collapses (which is basically impossible unless their countries disintegrate and/or go bankrupt), COMAC would be hitting a wall if they try to sell their planes in the West anyway.

On the other hand, Chinese planes can still be flown elsewhere outside of the West, as long as all proper safety requirements are fulfilled and safety standards are met. This is also why Russian planes from the Soviet-era are still flown outside of Russia today, although in vastly reduced numbers.

Adapting the C919 for military service would be easier when sanctions are implemented as China's MIC can definitely cover the bases. I would say the most pressing issues would be the performance changes due to the need for a new engine (This would be easy as requirements I believe are less stringent for military usage) and the verification of avionics (does not need to use certified systems) and powerplant changes. Only the commercial viability of the C919 would be impacted if the West implements sanctions on the C919.(Depends on the availability of the CJ-1000)

 

[Chilled_k6]

Self explanatory
View attachment 107063

Ok quoting some old posts here but doesn't KJ-200B have a conformal array located at the rear fuselage?

The one on Huitong's blog has a refueling probe that is a KJ-200 variant (described as KJ-200B), but maybe that's yet another different variant.

... upps ... why so small??? I added them in full size!
Maybe now better.

View attachment 53590 View attachment 53591

KJ-200B (with top-mounted 'balance beam' radar). Note the new side arrays.

 

[Mischa]

Since @Deino posted this on Twitter, I'd like to share it here too.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1625917695123128325

View attachment 107368

American counterparts for reference, according to variant:
01 - ASW maritime patrol aircraft - Boeing P-8 Poseidon
02 - ELINT and EW aircraft - Boeing RC-135
03 - AEW&C aircraft - Boeing E-7 Wedgetail
04 - Executive transport aircraft - Boeing C-32

All 4 PLA variants based on the C919 are definitely viable (since this is how most of the world does these kinds of platforms anyway), but we may have to wait until the late-2020s at the earliest to see them being realized, since there are still tons of stuff onboard the C919 that needs to be fully indigenized.

In the meantime, now we wait for the C929 to enter service in the 2030s at the earliest (very late, unfortunately )... So that China can have her own counterparts to the Boeing VC-25 presidental transport aircraft and the Boeing E-4 Nightwatch strategic C&C aircraft...

For sure 04- executive transport variant will join PLAAF in the future. This one has nothing to do with the domestic supply chain.

 

[by78]

Preparing to land.

 

[gelgoog]

Let's say, the West decides to completely cut off China's C919 from accessing Western components, today - Is COMAC capable of finding one-to-one indigenous substitutions to those Western components for the C919, and still make the C919 functional and operable? That is, even if/with the indigenously-substituted components have lower performance attributes (but still perfectly functional and properly following all required safety standards) than their original Western counterparts?

Not with the same level of performance. I am pretty certain they could repurpose technology from the Y-20 like the WS-20 engine, the avionics, APU, etc. But you would get decreased performance as a result. It would likely take them 2-5 years to redesign and certify the aircraft to use these new systems.