Red Chinese deploy their first AWACS

Multiple Web Sources, including SinoDefence | February 25, 2005 | Jeff Head

[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.

[paleocon patriarch]

The first skirmish in the war for hearts and minds is fought on the battlefield of language.

Soften the name and underestimate the enemy!

[Jeff Head]

Amen.

[Jeff Head]

...and it will come back to haunt us in the form of bullets, missiles and bombs.

[KC_Conspirator]

I know. It chaps my hide. Reminds me of when we sold all of our scrap metal to Japan in the 1930's knowing damn well they were building their war machine. Hell, at that time they were already at war with China and Korea.

[Jeff Head]

Yep...the parallels are amazing in many respects.

I try and point out how history could horrifically repeat itself in my series. I fear we are within a few years of just that.

[Tommyjo]

The Y-8 is a derivative of the An-12 CUB. In short it is the equivilant of the C-130. The C-130 was developed into AEW variants in the US with no problems for loiter capability. The Y-8 is AEW. The Chinese IL-76 based AWACS carries the code-name MAINRING.

[Tommyjo]

The Y-8 is an AEW bird. The IL-76 (MAINRING) is an AWACS. There is also the market for the Chinese to sell the Y-8 AEW. Along with the 'balance-beam' type radar the Chinese also have test bed Y-8 airframes with the traditional pancake dome as per the US C-130 variant.

[Tommyjo]

The EP-3E isn't an AWACS. The EP-3 wasn't forced down either. The crew/crew commander made the call for an emergency landing at the nearest avaiable airfield after the F-8 FINBACK collided with it.

[Doug Fiedor]

Looks like a very nice target to me. LOL

[Paul_Denton]

AWACS = Missile Bait. Still I am glad the US and Japan have joined to keep china at bay.

[Steelerfan]

Jeff, I applogize if I missed it in one of your posts but where are you on the whole cutting funding to the Raptor issue? I have seen a number of people here argue it is an unnecessary AF pet project and others say it is vital to countering threats like the Chinese. If I can ask, where do you come down on the issue?

[Tommyjo]

No more Phoenix in US service! The US Navy retired them in September 2004. The remaining US Navy F-14s will rely on the Sparrow until the F-14s themselves retire by the end of 2006.

[Paul_Denton]

We can still do it now...but the cost and impact have ratcheted up significantly and we may not be able to avoid a fight at this point. But still, better now than in another five or ten years IMHO.

The sooner the better so they do not become any more powerful. If it were me I would PREEMPTIVLY ATTACK China.

[rmlew]

Is the Y-8 a STOVL turboprop like the C-141?
The ChiComs may want an equivalent to the US E-2C for a carrier and to be deployed in smaller airfields?
As for the phased radar, do you think that it is a derivative of the Zhuk, used in the Su-27 and SU-30MKK, of the Erieye, or is it similar to the system the ChiComs are building for their Aegis-like destroyer?

[Khurkris]

Y-8 Airborne Early Warning Aircraft
The PLA Navy (PLAN) currently operates two or more airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft developed from the Shaanxi Y-8 turboprop aircraft. These aircraft, fitted with the Racal Instruments Skymaster airborne surveillance radar system, are deployed near Shanghai for AEW, ELINT and maritime patrol roles. Comparing to other AEW/AWACS aircraft such as the E-2C Hawkeye, the Y-8AEW is much less capable and only has limited surveillance capability.
The Y-8AEW is based on the improved Shaanxi Y-8C airframe, which has a fully pressured cabin to accommodate its crew and equipment.
The Skymaster radar is an improved variant of the Racal Electronics Searchwater radar, which is fitted to the Nimrod MR.2 and Sea King AEW.2 for AEW roles. The Skymaster is said to be able to detect and track multiple surface targets at a range of over 200km. The radar is powerful to detect small boats and submarine periscopes within its range.
SPECIFICATIONS
Flight crew: 4~5
Mission crew: N/A
Wingspan: 38.0m
Length: 34.02m
Height: 11.6m
Weight: Empty 35,488kg; Normal take-off 54,000kg; Maximum take-off 61,000kg
Speed: Cruising 550km/h; Maximum 662km/h
Service ceiling: 10,400m
Maximum climb rate: 10m/s (sea level)
Range: Ferry range 5,620km
Flight endurance: 10.5 hours
Runway: Take-off 1,270m; landing 1,050m

Date Last Updated: 16 November 2004(excert)

[Jeff Head]

I believe we have to have it...that we need to maintian an unassailable edge. The Chinese, if we allow them to continue (which IMHO we shouldn't, we need to immediately treat them like Reagan trated the Soviets), and if they overcome their social issues (and they usually do that very repressively), are going to develop into a econimc juggernaut that is going to challenge us in every concievable way. They are already making that clear.

[Jeff Head]

I beleive the picture above is of a significant improvement to the current Y-8 capabilities.

[Jeff Head]

Agreed...the sooner the better. We should have let McAuthur have his way back in the 50's, If we had, the Chinese Communists would have fallen and China would have been republican based ally in the far-east as a significant counterweight to the Soviets all those years, and our true, Free Market based trading partner to this day IMHO.

[chemainus]

and where the hell did they STEAL THIS TECHNOLOGY...or is it part of what Clinton and our universities shovel to them every day? we are such damned FOOLS

worked with a ChiCom Yan Ren drunk he said he was a fake MD sent here by BeiJing He and his friends liked to go to Hampton Roads on weekends and photograph the ships and carriers

got tired of one US job and sashayed to some defense or research citadel in NJ....just waltzed on in...out of sight out of mind...total freedom to steal us blind

we are such fools

[Jeff Head]

It is...but when they couple them with all of those hundreds of new SU-27's and SU-35's and their own new J-10's...it will be tough to get at them from over the Straits of Formosa or the SOuth China Sea.

POarticularly since we do not have the legs of the AIM-54's (Phoenix missile system) available any more and no future production planned.