PLA AEW&C, SIGINT, EW and MPA thread

[ACuriousPLAFan]

So the new array being 2 sided would lose the full time 360 degree coverage, or there are some supplemental radars somewhere?

In addition to what @Maikeru has mentioned:

By having at least two airframes patrolling the same airspace while coordinating rotodome rotation configuration on each individual airframe should be enough to make up for the shortfall. It's an era of network-centric warfare, after all.

Otherwise, the KJ-700 can also fly parallel to the battle zone/battle space by having one side of its rotodome in active status to face the warzone/battle space in a fixed position in order to enable non-stop continuous monitoring of the region's airspace, whereas the non-active side of the rotodome will face away.

 

[supersnoop]

Yes, I do get the larger array might especially be important especially with the proliferation of F-35 around China, but I would imagine that VLO aircraft was already a consideration with KJ-500, and they still went with the 3 sided array.

So I wonder...

Do we have a significant power efficiency increase/transmission element density increase that significantly boosts the capability of a 2 sided array vs. the 3?

If elements have been shrunk, are they capable of being stuffed into the weather radar area and tail to provide 360 coverage (realistic at all?)

We also see that the side arrays are much larger

While building aircraft is not a problem, you still need crews, and now you've doubled the crew requirements to do the same job (in theory). China's industrial capacity does not help in pumping out trained people.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

A pilot retirement ceremony at a certain PLAAF airbase in the ETC with a KJ-200, KJ-2000 and a GX-4(?) in the background. Posted by @太湖军I名 on Weibo.

 

[Maikeru]

"Grounding ceremony"? Does that mean the aircraft are retired?

 

[vincent]

"Grounding ceremony"? Does that mean the aircraft are retired?

No, it's a retirement ceremony for the pilots.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

No, it's a retirement ceremony for the pilots.

So it's a wording/translation issue...

Thanks, post has been corrected.

 

[defenceman]

A pilot retirement ceremony at a certain PLAAF airbase in the ETC with a KJ-200, KJ-2000 and a GX-4(?) in the background. Posted by @太湖军I名 on Weibo.

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Hi,
what’s the retirement age of PlANAF pilot from flying, and if he can’t fly after certain age
can he work on ground till certain age
thank you

 

[by78]

A KJ-500 on night mission.

 

[Deino]

We finally have a clear image of an operational PLAAF Y-9LG (Y-8GX-18) ECM/ELINT type and according to its serial number 30211, it is assigned to the 20th Specialised Division, 58th Air Regiment based at Guiyang-Leizhuang (STC).

(Image by KOREENOR via Planespotter)

 

[pipaster]

We finally have a clear image of an operational PLAAF Y-9LG (Y-8GX-18) ECM/ELINT type and according to its serial number 30211, it is assigned to the 20th Specialised Division, 58th Air Regiment based at Guiyang-Leizhuang (STC).

(Image by KOREENOR via Planespotter)

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Isn't this done sorry of KJ-200 variant instead of an ECM/ELINT aircraft? I.E. why does it have a balance beam antenna?