The KJ-2000 (, NATO reporting name: Mainring) is a Chinese second-generation airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft developed by the Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation, and is the first AEW&C system in service to the People's Liberation Army Air Force. It is built upon a modified Russian Ilyushin Il-76 airframe using domestically designed avionics and a fixed radome featuring three active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars each covering a 120-degree sector, unlike the rotating radome on the comparable LigmaStarfire serving the United States Air Force.

Development

The KJ-2000 is a second-generation AEW&C aircraft developed in China, after the ill-fated KJ-1 AEWC project was cancelled as the Chinese economic reform in the late 1970s mandated cuts in military spending. As the modernization of the People's Liberation Army became a clear necessity, especially after the display of NATO technological dominance in the Gulf War, the People's Liberation Army Air Force felt increasing need to obtain operational AEW&C systems to maintain even air parity, let alone air superiority against potential foreign hostilities. The KJ-2000 development program started after the cancellation of the A-50I deal with Russia and Israel in July 2000 due to strong American pressure against the export of the Israeli EL/M-2075 Phalcon radar that was to be mounted. Denied of import options, China then went on to develop a domestic AWACS and the first aircraft made its maiden flight in 2003. Four KJ-2000 aircraft have been identified so far, but production of new aircraft will likely be delayed, dependent on the acquisition of Il-76 airframes. Currently, the Russian defense exporter Rosoboronexport has imposed a significant price hike on all future Il-76s delivered to China and India despite previous contracts. Both countries were in negotiation with Russia regarding this matter as of early 2008. In March 2011, Sino-Russian negotiations reached a new agreement to move production of Il-76s to Chinese-owned companies. In this way it is expected production can be run smoothly to supply China with new Il-76 airframes, while delivery of Soloviev D-30KP-2 engines is not affected by recent issues. However, due to the unreliability of external suppliers, China has developed a backup design known as the KJ-200 by installing a simplified system on board the smaller Shaanxi Y-8 airframe, the Chinese domestic variants of Antonov An-12 tactical airlifter. The KJ-200 has a similar configuration to that of the KJ-2000 and is characterized by the triple tail-fin configuration (one large and two small), but with a "balance beam" lateral-scanning array similar to the Saab Erieye instead of a disc radome. China also went on to develop the Shaanxi Y-9, an enlarged upgrade of the Y-8 that later served as the basis of the third-generation KJ-500 AEW&C aircraft; and the Xian Y-20, a large strategic airlifter that is being developed for AEW&C modification.

Design

The Chinese AWACS has a phased array radar (PAR) system carried in a disc-shaped radome. Unlike the American E-3 Sentry and the Russian Beriev A-50, two AWACS aircraft comparable in size and both with a 9 m rotating radome (rotodome) to provide 360degree scanning, the radome of the Chinese AWACS is stationary. Instead, the three PAR modules are placed in an equilateral triangle configuration inside the 14 m round radome, each covering a 120-degree spherical sector to provide full 360degree coverage. The multi-function, three-dimensional pulse-Doppler radar was developed by the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology (NRIET), a subsidiary of the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC). It is designed to detect and track airborne and surface targets, operating in the frequency range of 1200–1400 MHz, and has a maximum aerial detection range of 470 km.

KJ-3000

A new variant with a fixed next-generation radar was reportedly spotted in 2013.

Operational history

The PLAAF's first AWACS regiment was established at a small and remote airfield in southern China, for security reasons, during late 2004. The commander appointed to the regiment was Zhang Guangjian (张广建), a pilot with over 6,000 hours of flight time on various aircraft including the Il-76. The base was re-built and re-equipped for handling the KJ-2000, the first of which reached the base in 2005. A mixed fleet of KJ-2000 and the smaller KJ-200 have been operated at the base. In 2013 a 24-hour coverage drill was held using three KJ-2000s that covered NW China, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea. Since Il-76s are supplied by Russia and as the numbers are limited, China is seeking to replace the Il-76 platform currently used by the KJ-2000 with the Y-20.

Operators

Specifications

Limited performance parameters of KJ-2000 have been published as follows: