Posted on 02/25/2005 6:28:35 AM PST by Jeff Head
The People's Republic of China, after more than a decade of efforts which saw the cancellation of an intital Israeli project to provide them with the capability (at the behest of the United States), have now produced their own first modern AWACS aircraft and placed them in service.
The aircraft are based on the Russian Beriev A-50 Mainstay airframe but use wholly Chinese created phased array radar components housed in a non-rotating dome, providing 360 degree coverage.
Two aircraft have been built and two more are rapidly being completed for placing in service.
Capabilities of the Chinese phased array system are unknown, but believed to be on par with the Russian conventional AWACS capability of tracking 60-100 aircraft at once in a 250 mile radius air space and directing 12 or more fighters to all weather, day or night engagements simultaneously. In air refueling capability is included.
In additrion to this capabiliy, the People's Republic is also developing an AWACS capability based on the shorter ranged Y-8 turboprop aircraft. It is thought that the system is either similar to, or a derivitive of, the Swedish Ericsson PS-890 Erieye system and can therfore be used for either aircraft control, electronic intelligence, ground mapping and targeting missions.
It is not thought that any of the Y-8 aircraft are operational as of yet.
I'm sure the French and Germans see this as another market to exploit. They probably can't wait to upgrade the avionics and radar capabilities of the aircraft - they are our allies in name.
They had older, antiquarted capabilites, but were trying to get something modern ten years ago. But the Israeli deal fell through just before completion and they had to then start over and devel;oped an indiginopus design for the radar. They went Phased array...which is a more modern design.
Apparently, there may have already been some purchasing going on between Sweden and the PLAAF for that Y-8 turbo-prop design.
FYI
However, I'm not sure if the AWACS based on the Y-8 turboprop transport is a good idea, though. That plane has relatively short range to start with and given that you want AWACS to be in the air several hours at a time....
My guess on the Y-8 turboprop is that it is either for export...or perhaps may be a candidate for a future PLAN carrier. The mainstay design certainly could not fir that role at all. If the Y-8 is, or could be modified for STAL duty, then it might.
By going with a propellor-type aircraft, doesn't that allow them to operate at a lower airspeed (less number-crunching when tracking things)? Something like this might be good for monitoring a coastal region like, say, the Taiwan Strait, where they don't need the long range or high speed. Prop planes like this tend to be a little more rugged than their jet counterparts, as well.
Didn't I just say that the Y-8 turboprop transport--which is based on the Soviet-era Antonov An-12 transport of the early 1960's--has relatively short range? You'd think they would put that candy-bar shaped radar on the A-50 derivative instead, which makes a lot more sense.
Just to add, according to FAS, there is a maritime version of the y-8 that has a 5,600km range, which would be more than enough to do coastal patrols. The maritime version already has a pretty sophisticated down-looking radar system. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the AWACS system they are installing takes the space of that radar system rather neatly (minus the big radome on the bottom of the plane of course).
FYI
Thanks for the ping!
Having access to one of our AWACS aircraft couldn't POSSIBLY had anything to do with this!!!!
No, not at all
The dragon will awaken...
</tinfoil beanie>
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Considering they've never had access to one of our AWACS aircraft, it likely didn't.
(Hint: an EP-3 is not an AWACS and is nothing like an AWACS.)
I'm actually sort of shocked this thread made 15 posts without someone claiming Clinton gave them the AWACS.
These, on the other hand, will all work very nicely In order shown: F-18, F-14, F-22, F-15, F-35 (JSF), and F-16).
I'm not aware of any specific, direct AWACS technology transfers. Basic computer processing and minituarization capabilities certainly have helped them across the board...but for specific AWACS, they had to go to Russia and try to go to Israel, and then develop the rest themselves.
With all the upcoming budget cuts will we even have the F-22 and F-35? I guess I got the air to air capability from Clancy's Red Storm Rising.
Now, basic computer processing and minituarization capabilities certainly have helped them across the board...but for specific AWACS, they had to go to Russia and try to go to Israel, and then develop the rest themselves.
As to the Dragon awakening here in the 21st centruy, I agree. I have written about a potential scenario regarding the Dragon's Fury.
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