KJ-2000 Airborne Warning & Control System
Last updated: 21 December 2007
The KJ-2000 (KongJing-2000) airborne warning and control system (AWACS) is based on the Russian-made A-50 (NATO codename: Mainstay) airframe outfitted with Chinese-made electronically steered phased-array (ESA) radar and C3I system developed by Nanjing Research Institute of Electronic Technology (also known as 14 Institute). Xi’an Aircraft Corporation (XAC) is building additional KJ-2000s by converting existing IL-76MD transport aircraft in PLAAF service. The aircraft entered operational service in 2006/07.
The PLA has been investing heavily in the past decade to develop its airborne early warning capability. A number of designs have been introduced in recent years, with the KJ-2000 being the advanced and capable. 4~6 systems like this would enable the PLA to build a sophisticated regional command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (C4ISR) system that could be used to support both defensive and offensive operations.
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KJ-2000 prototype on final approach before landing
(Chinese Internet) |
A-50I Phalcon Programme
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| The first example of the A-50I spotted at the Israeli Tel Aviv Airport in Summer 2000 (Chinese Internet) |
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China started a three-way talk with Israel and Russia, the country’s two traditional suppliers of weapon systems and technologies, in 1994 for a possible purchase of advanced AWACS aircraft. The project involved acquisition of the Russian-made Beriev A-50 Mainstay Airframe, and to fit it with the Phalcon airborne early warning (AEW) radar and associated C3I system developed by Israeli Aircraft Industries Ltd (IAI). In 1996 China, Russia, and Israel reached initial agreement on a US$250 million deal to supply one such AWACS aircraft to the PLA Air Force (PLAAF).
In May 1997, Israel and Russia reached agreement on modifying one A-50 for $250 million, with the option of three more AWACS for a total cost of $1 billion. Russia secured about 20 percent of the deal. After some delay, in October 1999, Russia transferred an A-50 airframe to Israel for the installation of the Phalcon AEW radar system. By May 2000, Israel had nearly completed work on the aircraft under the designation A-50I.
The Phalcon deal became an increasingly controversial issue between the United States and Israel. In 2000, the Clinton Administration voiced stronger objections to the sale and urged Israel to cancel the sale of the Phalcon, saying it is a system comparable to the U.S. AWACS and could collect intelligence and guide aircraft from 250 miles away. Finally, in July 2000 the Israeli government cancelled the deal with China.
KJ-2000 Programme
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| KJ-2000 in the CFTE livery (Chinese Internet) |
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China reacted to the U.S. interfering in the A-50I deal by starting a domestic programme to develop its own active phased-array radar. The radar development was carried out by 14 Institute based in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. The Israeli-made Phalcon radar and other onboard electronic systems were retrieved from the unfinished A-50I, and the airframe was handed to China via Russia in 2002. Modifications on the airframe began in late 2002 to install the Chinese-made airborne radar system at XAC. The aircraft, designated KJ-2000, made its first flight in November 2003.
A total of four planes (B-4040, B-4041, B-4043, and CFTE #762) have been produced so far. One of the examples is fitted with an aerial refuelling probe on its nose, presumably based on the A-50I airframe delivered from Russia. The refuelling probe is missing on other examples, suggesting that they may have been converted from the existing IL-76MD transport aircraft operated by the PLAAF since the early 1990s.
Following some extensive flight testing at China Flight Test Establishment (CFTE) in Yanliang, Shaanxi Province and radar system testing at an airbase near Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, the aircraft entered operational service in 2006/07 and have been stationed in Zhejiang Province.
By 2007, at least four KJ-2000s (30071, 30072, 30073, 30074) had been delivered to the PLAAF 26th Air Division based in eastern China.
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KJ-2000 in operational service with the PLAAF
(Chinese Internet) |
Aircraft
The KJ-2000 has five flight crew and possibly 10~15 mission crew. The aircraft carries out patrol missions at an altitude of 5,000~10,000m. The maximum flight range of the aircraft is 5,000km and the flight endurance is 7 hours 40 minutes. At a range of 2,000km, the aircraft can remain on patrol for up to 1 hour 25 minutes.
The A-50 airframe, developed and manufactured by the Beriev Aircraft Research and Engineering Complex Joint Stock Company based at Taganrog in the Rostov Region of Russia, was derived from the Ilyushin IL-76 jet transport aircraft, distinguished by the large, non-rotate radome containing the phased-array radar antenna; the solid nose replacing the original ‘glass-in’ nose, and a large number of electronic system antennas on the front section of the fuselage.
Radar
The primary radar system housed in the radome is an three-sided electronically steered phased-array (ESA) developed by Nanjing-based 14 institute. Unlike the Russian A-50 or U.S. E-3, which rotate their rotodomes to give a 360 degree coverage, the KJ-2000's radar antenna does not rotate. Instead, three ESA antenna modules are placed in a triangular configuration inside the round radome to provide a 360 degree coverage.
The Chinese-made radar system could be similar in design to the IAI Phalcon, but may not be as capable as the latter. The Phalcon system could track up to 60~100 targets at the same time and guide a dozen fighters in all-weather, day and night operations.
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