The KJ-2000 (Chinese: 空警-2000; pinyin: Kōngjǐng Liǎngqiān; lit. 'Airwarning-2000'), NATO reporting name: Mainring is a Chinese Airborne early warning and control system comprising domestically designed electronics and radars installed on a modified Ilyushin Il-76 airframe.[2]
KJ-2000 | |
---|---|
![]() | |
A KJ-2000 in flight at the 2014 Zhuhai Air Show | |
Role | Airborne early warning and control Type of aircraft |
National origin | Russia/China |
Manufacturer | Ilyushin |
First flight | 2003[citation needed] |
Status | Active |
Primary user | People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) |
Number built | 5[1] |
Developed from | Ilyushin Il-76 |
The KJ-2000 development program started after the cancellation of the A-50I deal with Israel and Russia in July 2000, due to strong U.S. pressure regarding the Israeli radar that was to be mounted. China then went on to develop a domestic AWACS and the first aircraft made its maiden flight in 2003.
Four KJ-2000 aircraft have been identified so far, but production of new aircraft will likely be delayed, dependent on the acquisition of Il-76 airframes. Currently, the Russian defense exporter Rosoboronexport has imposed a significant price hike on all future Il-76s delivered to China and India despite previous contracts. Both countries are currently in negotiation with Russia regarding this matter as of early 2008.[3]
In March 2011, Russia/China negotiations reached a new agreement to move production of Il-76s to Chinese owned companies. In this way it is expected production can be run smoothly to supply China with new Il-76 airframes, while delivery of Soloviev D-30KP-2 engines is not affected by recent issues.[3]
Due to unreliable external supplier sources, China has developed a backup known as the KJ-200 by installing a simplified system on board the Shaanxi Y-8. This aircraft has a similar configuration to that of the KJ-2000 and is characterized by the triple tail-fin configuration (one large and two small).
The Chinese AWACS has a phased array radar (PAR) carried in a round radome. Unlike the US AWACS aircraft, which rotate their rotodomes to give a 360‑degree coverage, the radar antenna of the Chinese AWACS does not rotate. Instead, three PAR antenna modules are placed in a triangular configuration inside the round radome to provide a 360‑degree coverage. The multi-function, three-dimensional pulse-Doppler radar was developed by NII (Nanjing Electronic Technology Research Institute), and is designed to detect and track airborne and surface targets.[4]
It operates in the frequency range of 1200–1400 MHz. The antenna system consists of three phased arrays, located in a 14-metre-diameter (46 ft) disc. In contrast, the Russian Beriev A-50 and American Boeing E-3 Sentry use a 9-metre-diameter (30 ft) disc. Each phased array has a 120-degree field of view. Maximum range of detection of air targets is 470 km (290 mi). A-50I of India made by Israel adopted its design and entered service later than KJ-2000(service 2004) in 2009.[4]
A new variant with a fixed next-generation radar was reportedly spotted in 2013.[5]
The PLAAF's first AWACS regiment was established at a small and remote airfield in southern China, for security reasons, during late 2004. The commander appointed to the regiment was Zhang Guangjian (张广建), a pilot with over 6,000 hours of flight time on various aircraft including the Il-76. The base was re-built and re-equipped for handling the KJ-2000, the first of which reached the base in 2005. A mixed fleet of KJ-2000 and the smaller KJ-200 have been operated at the base.[6]
In 2013 a 24-hour coverage drill was held using three KJ-2000s that covered NW China, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea.[6]
Since Il-76s are supplied by Russia and as the numbers are limited, China is seeking to replace the Il-76 platform currently used by the KJ-2000 with the Y-20.[7]
Limited performance parameters of KJ-2000 have been published as follows:[8]
Related development
Related lists
Chinese People's Liberation Army AEW aircraft designations | |
---|---|
Kōng jǐng "KJ" (Airborne Early Warning) |
Chinese military aircraft | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fighters |
| ||||||||
Bombers | |||||||||
AEW and AEW&C | |||||||||
Tankers | |||||||||
Reconnaissance | |||||||||
Transport |
| ||||||||
Trainers | |||||||||
Helicopters |
| ||||||||
UAVs and UCAVs |
| ||||||||
|