Was this the recent flyover the south of Taiwan by any chance?A KJ-500A being refueled by a YY-20. A very rare sight and the first I've seen.
If so, another example of new tactics deployed there first.
PLA AEW&C, SIGINT, EW and MPA thread
- Thread starter Sczepan
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If so, another example of new tactics deployed there first.
Hopefully those older KJ-500s without refueling probes can be retrofitted with one soon.A KJ-500A being refueled by a YY-20. A very rare sight and the first I've seen.
Besides, it would be preferable if the KJ-200s and other types of Gaoxin aircrafts (ASW, EW, ELINT, SIGINT etc) too can be retrofitted and/or built with refueling probes soon.
The tyranny of distance is definitely a significant issue for the PLAAF and PLANAF fighting across the WestPac and Himalayan frontiers.
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SAR?
Synthetic Aperture Radar.
Just to chip-in a little.
That AEW&C deal was originally meant to be performed on a couple Il-76s that China purchased from Russia by installing the Israeli EL/W-2090 radar sets and equipment onboard those Il-76s. But after that deal was scuttled by US intervention, those Israeli radar sets and equipment were then sold to India, which culminated in the 3x A-50EIs that are in service with the Indian Air Force right now.
China's aspiration to acquire AEW&C aircrafts definitely suffered a major setback at that time, sure. But it's not like China didn't start their own AEW&C when the deal was still on, either. And look at where China is at right now compared to India.
While India is still stuck with:
1. 3x of the original A-50EIs, and
2. 3x EMB-145-I aircrafts, with
3. Plans to convert 6x A321s purchased from Air India into AEW&C platforms;
China is already steaming far, far ahead with:
1. Around 3-4x KJ-2000s,
2. At least 11x KJ-200s, and
3. At least 50-60x KJ-500s right now, with
4. Plans to procure numerous larger AEW&C platforms i.e. KJ-3000 (either based on Y-20B or C919(-I)) in the coming years.
Just the fact on the numbers alone can tell a lot.
That AEW&C deal was originally meant to be performed on a couple Il-76s that China purchased from Russia by installing the Israeli EL/W-2090 radar sets and equipment onboard those Il-76s. But after that deal was scuttled by US intervention, those Israeli radar sets and equipment were then sold to India, which culminated in the 3x A-50EIs that are in service with the Indian Air Force right now.
China's aspiration to acquire AEW&C aircrafts definitely suffered a major setback at that time, sure. But it's not like China didn't start their own AEW&C when the deal was still on, either. And look at where China is at right now compared to India.
While India is still stuck with:
1. 3x of the original A-50EIs, and
2. 3x EMB-145-I aircrafts, with
3. Plans to convert 6x A321s purchased from Air India into AEW&C platforms;
China is already steaming far, far ahead with:
1. Around 3-4x KJ-2000s,
2. At least 11x KJ-200s, and
3. At least 50-60x KJ-500s right now, with
4. Plans to procure numerous larger AEW&C platforms i.e. KJ-3000 (either based on Y-20B or C919(-I)) in the coming years.
Just the fact on the numbers alone can tell a lot.