China’s New AEW&C KJ-3000 Specialized for Air-to-surface Combat



CRI Online, a key news website of China’s Central authority run by China Radio International, says in its report titled “Chinese military expert: Improved version of KJ-2000 specialized in directing air-to-surface combat”, “The new type of AEW&C disclosed this time is called by military fans as ‘KJ-3000’.

Military experts are of the opinion that the naming of that type of AEW&C is not important. What is important is that the new type of AEW&C has greatly enhanced Chinese air force’s and navy’s capability of both attack and defense in air combat.

“Associate Prof. Ge Lide of the National Defense University said, ‘…As far as I know, this new AEW&C uses our homegrown Y-9 transport as carrier. Compared with Y-8 used by KJ-200, there is significant increase in load, range and endurance.

“At the same time, we see that it uses the large mushroom-shaped antenna of KJ-2000 with long range and relatively strong ability of multi-target identification and tracking. It is entirely capable of both detecting targets and directing and commanding battle. In other words, the AEW&C can not only rapidly detect enemy targets coming to attack us from far away but also distribute targets among our fighter jets and guide them to intercept and hit those targets in the air.”

“Research fellow Du Wenlong of the Academy of Military Sciences believes that in the future, ‘KJ-3000 will perhaps mainly guide air-to-surface combats and thus provide a better basis for the combat capability of Chinese air force. ‘Judging by its functions, KJ-2000 is an AEW&C that detects and gives guidance in air combats.

“‘It has to be improved, if we are to give further play of its potential and develop a weapon we lack in conducting long-distance reconnoiter and accurate positioning of land targets and giving guidance in attacking them. From this point of view, this KJ-3000 shall be a rival to US E8. Its major function is to give guidance not in air combats but in air-to-surface combats.

“‘If our air force is equipped with such AEW&C, there will be highly efficient early warning and guidance for our air formation in conducting air-to-surface and air-to-ship attacks. This indicates the commencement of connection between our air force and land combat capabilities and a very satisfactory foundation laid in this respect.’”

“Experts said: Along with the successful trial flights of China’s Y-20, in the future, China can develop its AEW&C on the basis of Y-20, which means there will be a larger carrier for China’s AEW&C to carry more weapons and equipment and significantly enhance its detecting ability, endurance and directing and guiding ability.”

Source: CRI Online “Chinese military expert: Improved version of KJ-2000 specialized in directing air-to-surface combat”