China’s Newly Unveiled KJ-3000 ‘Flying Radar’ Could Significantly Bolster Counter-Stealth Capabilities

<p >Closely coinciding with the <a href=" target="_blank">unofficial unveiling </a>of China’s two sixth generation fighters on December 26, the release of the images of a new heavyweight airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system has provided insight into the future of the country’s airborne command and control and elevated sensor capabilities. Airborne radar early warning and control systems carry radars several times the size of those that can be accommodated by even the largest fighter aircraft, and can serve as command posts to perform battle management. They are considered important force multipliers for combat aviation, and help fighters and other assets to detect, track and prioritise their targets and coordinate actions against them. Modern AEW&Cs can also share targeting data using data links, and can even guide missiles launched by other assets such as fighters or air defence systems to their targets. The value of their powerful elevated sensors is considered particularly high in conflicts that are likely to include large numbers of fifth and sixth generation stealth aircraft, as their large radars networked with those of fighters, and possibly ground and ship based radars, are expected to be able to significantly increase the distances at which stealth aircraft can be tracked and targeted. </p><p ><img src=" title="Chinese Y-20 Transport "></p><p >The new KJ-3000 is notable for being based on the domestically developed Y-20B transport aircraft powered by WS-20 engines, which is currently the largest transport plane in production anywhere in the world. Previously the Shaanxi <a href=" formed the backbone</a> of the Chinese AEW&C fleet, and upon entering service in 2015 introduced important advancements over prior Chinese AEW&Cs including improvements in AESA radar and data link technologies, and an ability to track 100 targets simultaneously. The aircraft was based on the indigenous Shaanxi Y-9 four engined turboprop transport, however, which as a much lighter aircraft than the Y-20 with a more limited flight performance and endurance. While the KJ-500 is expected to remain in production for the foreseeable future, with the enhanced KJ-500A variant having been unveiled at <a href=" China 2022</a> featuring significant improvements to avionics, the KJ-3000 is expected to serve as a heavier counterpart capable of carrying much larger sensors as part of a unique high-low combination of systems. It is notable that no other air force in the world fields such a combination. A third AEW&C system, the KJ-600, is also reported to have recently entered service and be currently in production for China’s navy. </p><p ><img src=" title="Chinese KJ-500A AEW&C"></p><p >The Y-20 has played an increasingly central role in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, and was previously developed into an airborne tanker, the YY-20, which <a href=" combat readiness training</a> in August 2022. Much as the YY-20 is gradually revolutionising China’s previously relatively limited aerial refuelling capabilities, the KJ-3000 is expected to totally transform its heavyweight AEW&C fleet. The value of modern AEW&Cs has recently been <a href=" in the Russian-Ukrainian War, in which Russia has used its limited fleet of A-50U aircraft to guide its longest ranged anti aircraft missiles such as the 40N6 and R-37M to <a href=" targets at extreme ranges</a> of 300-400km. The value attributed to AEW&Cs is expected to continue to grow as more complex aerial warfare assets, including autonomous and semi-autonomous unmanned aircraft, play growing roles in future fleets. Despite significant investment in the field, China’s reliance on AEW&C is markedly lower than Western air forces, as its fighter aircraft carry far larger radars on average than their Western counterparts. The J-20 and J-16 that form the backbone of the country’s fleet carry radars far larger than those of any Western fighter, several times as large as those of the F-16 that form the backbone of the American fleet, and well over twice as large as that of the F-35. China is also the only country to have developed twin seat stealth fighters, allowing a second officer to perform battle management roles in ways that are impossible for an F-35 or F-22.</p><p ><img src=" title="Boeing E-7 AEW&C"></p><p >China’s advanced AEW&C capabilities are considered a leading factor stimulating the United States to invest in 2022 in acquisitions of the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail, although the aircraft is significantly smaller and carries a much lighter sensor suite than the KJ-3000. The Cold War era E-3 Sentry the U.S. Air Force currently relies on is considered long past obsolescence. The sophistication of the Chinese AEW&C fleet was <a href=" target="_blank">singled out in 2022</a> by head of the United States Pacific Air Forces Kenneth Wilsbach for the important role it played in supporting operations by <a href=" target="_blank">J-20 fifth generation fighters</a>. “We’re relatively impressed with the command and control associated with the J-20… aircraft in the region… were pretty well commanded and controlled by the Chinese assets,” he stated. “The KJ-500… plays a significant role in some of their capability for long range fires. Some of their very long range air to air missiles are aided by that KJ-500. Being able to interrupt that kill chain is something that interests me greatly.”</p>