PLA AEW&C, SIGINT, EW and MPA thread

[LuzinskiJ]

Just wondering why we see seemingly much greater use of turbofans on Western AWACS aircraft?

Perhaps due to the availability of the turbofan platforms + the range those aircrafts need to travel?

 

[SanWenYu]

Turbofans have lower noise and less vibrations thus can provide a more comfortable environment for the crew.

 

[gelgoog]

Choosing a platform is based on many things including the above, but even more on logistic consideration. C919 is in the same class as 737, so it can be made a good AWACS, but that also means PLA has to pay for another development program they have already paid to turboprop based AWACS, and they will have another type to maintain, the costs may not worth the questionable "advantage" of turbofan platform.

IMO, There is a good reason for C919 AWACS when the existing turboprop AWACS fleet is close to retirement that demands switching to a new platform. So I would say C919 is possible, but not in the near term even when C919 is fully domesticated. In other words, PLA is not in a hury to switch.

Exactly. Without a fully domestic C919 the military won't be touching that aircraft with a bargepole.

 

[Stealthflanker]

Just wondering why we see seemingly much greater use of turbofans on Western AWACS aircraft?

More fuel efficient than turbojets, while still allow some good high subsonic cruise speed.

Beside commonality with commercial aircraft, comfort etc. use of jet engine also eliminate interference caused by propeller's rotation to radar. early AEW like Tu-126 suffers from this and maybe E-2 too.

 

[BoraTas]

Not to doubt your statement, but aren't most AWACS platforms in the West turbofan based? The most significant outlier would have to be the E-2D Hawkeye I would guess.

Just wondering why we see seemingly much greater use of turbofans on Western AWACS aircraft?

Most Western special mission aircraft are derived from airliners, which are turbofan engined by default. China had the Y-8 platform as large aircraft to derive special mission aircraft from. So for both sides there was nothing to choose from.

 

[HighGround]

What about power generation? Do turbofans generate more power turboprops?

 

[pesoleati]

Japan made P1. I think it is the right direction for China too, as both of them has the technical power to do so but don't have the civil aerospace industry that can provide the design already in the business.

China should design a twine WS20 family engine powered 100t platform to replace Y8/Y9 platform. This design can share process / parts with C919, but should be limited by C919.

Leave C919 as pure commercial play

 

[Stealthflanker]

What about power generation? Do turbofans generate more power turboprops?

Power generation depends more on whether your engine have space for the generator and its engine rating tho.
Big power generation also comes with weight, complexity and the fact that the generator may consume the same fuel as your aircraft (if dedcated) reduces your endurance.

Nowadays power generation is non issue with more efficient electronics of today. Of course things like Radar still need relatively big power but, so far generation of Megawatt level power was not necessary. You will run into cooling issue first before power generation issue.