@somePLAOSINT on Twitter estimated that the number of Chinese land-based AEW&C aircrafts in service is 61. In comparison, the US has 31 land-based AEW&C aircrafts in service.
Though, he could actually replace the "might be" phrase with "actually is".
Present number of land-based AEW&C aircrafts operated by the PLA:
KJ-2000: 4
KJ-200: 11 (could be more, given we've seen the KJ-200B last year)
KJ-500: 50+ (instead of 43)
KJ-700: 3+
Total: At least 68
Of course, this data tabulation ignores the naval-based AEW&C aircrafts, of which the US holds a decisive edge over China with their large numbers of E-2C/Ds (~70+ of them, distributed across 11 CVNs and training & evaluation bases). Adding the E-2C/Ds to the count would bring the grand total of US AE&C aircrafts to 110-120+.
Meanwhile, China only has up to 6 KJ-600s as of now, and there is no confirmation that they are in active service.
In the meantime, adding the AEW&C aircrafts operated by the "LC"s of the US in the WestPac region:
JASDF: 4x E-767s and 16x E-2C/Ds
ROKAF: 4x E-7s
RAAF: 6x E-7s
Total: 30
Adding that number to the US' E-3 fleet would narrow the gap between China's and the US&LC's AEW&C fleet sizes, especially should the US decide to concentrate the majority of their AEW&C fleet in the WestPac.
However, China should not aim for parity with the US&LC in terms of their AEW&C fleet size. Instead, with the worst-case scenario in mind - the PLA should aim to surpass them. At least 100 of them is needed - And that's speaking of the WestPac theater only.
Though, he could actually replace the "might be" phrase with "actually is".
Present number of land-based AEW&C aircrafts operated by the PLA:
KJ-2000: 4
KJ-200: 11 (could be more, given we've seen the KJ-200B last year)
KJ-500: 50+ (instead of 43)
KJ-700: 3+
Total: At least 68
Of course, this data tabulation ignores the naval-based AEW&C aircrafts, of which the US holds a decisive edge over China with their large numbers of E-2C/Ds (~70+ of them, distributed across 11 CVNs and training & evaluation bases). Adding the E-2C/Ds to the count would bring the grand total of US AE&C aircrafts to 110-120+.
Meanwhile, China only has up to 6 KJ-600s as of now, and there is no confirmation that they are in active service.
In the meantime, adding the AEW&C aircrafts operated by the "LC"s of the US in the WestPac region:
JASDF: 4x E-767s and 16x E-2C/Ds
ROKAF: 4x E-7s
RAAF: 6x E-7s
Total: 30
Adding that number to the US' E-3 fleet would narrow the gap between China's and the US&LC's AEW&C fleet sizes, especially should the US decide to concentrate the majority of their AEW&C fleet in the WestPac.
However, China should not aim for parity with the US&LC in terms of their AEW&C fleet size. Instead, with the worst-case scenario in mind - the PLA should aim to surpass them. At least 100 of them is needed - And that's speaking of the WestPac theater only.
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