KJ-600 Carrier AEW - Requirements
China's first two aircraft carriers were equipped with a powerful radar system, but due to the curvature of the earth, the current radar range of the Chinese aircraft carrier battle group is limited, because low-flying objects and other ships are difficult to spot near the horizon. The KJ-600 will rewrite this story. China's navy currently has two aircraft carrier combat groups, namely, ship number 16 Liaoning ship and ship number 17 Shandong ship. Although the two aircraft carriers have a full load displacement of 60,000 tons, they cannot board because of the ski jump take-off mode. Fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft.In order to make up for the short-range air-to-sea long-distance early warning caused by the lack of fixed-wing early warning aircraft in the aircraft carrier combat group, the domestic Zhi-18 early-warning helicopter was used as a supplement, but compared to the fixed-wing early warning aircraft such as E-2C early warning aircraft, the speed, maximum range, detection range and accuracy of Z-18 helicopters against sea and air targets are obviously much inferior.
The carrier-based fixed-wing early warning aircraft are necessary for the aircraft carrier's formation to independently carry out high-intensity air operations in the distant sea. The early warning helicopters used by Liaoning have problems of short life, low flight altitude and near detection range. Therefore, it is difficult to meet the requirements of high strength and independent combat formation. Developing fixed wing early warning aircraft is certainly the development trend of the Chinese Navy.
The carriers Liaoning and Type 001A rely on airborne early warning helicopters and an integrated radar system to detect enemies. But these systems with their weaker warning capability risk exposing the carrier's position. Phased radar carried by an airborne early warning helicopter is limited in size. The early warning distance, time and accuracy is thus limited.
An airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft can be deployed as a command center in the sky, gathering information and coordinating vessels into a stronger strike force, Song noted. The KJ-600 will most likely fly with China's new carriers using electromagnetic catapults, Chinese military expert Lan Shunzheng told the Science and Technology Daily. A fixed wing aircraft is too heavy for the ski jump takeoff on the Liaoning and Type 001A, Lan reportedly said. The electromagnetic catapult is a valuable addition to a modern carrier as it can launch heavier aircraft like the KJ-600, Song said. Using the new catapult, more jets can take off in a shorter time and boost the carrier's combat capabilities.
It is believed that the KJ-600 will fill the main operational gap between China's aircraft carriers and the West. Advanced carrier-based early warning aircraft is an important part of maritime operations. It uses command fighter jets to detect long-range aircraft, ships and missiles, determine attack targets, and coordinate air and ground attacks. These aircraft can be used for surveillance and emergency air traffic control. However, because China's existing active-duty early warning aircraft is too heavy and too slow for the aircraft carrier, China has not yet deployed this capability.
In recent years, China has been actively expanding its aircraft carrier program, training pilots, testing carrier-based fighter models, and developing advanced propulsion systems. At present, China already has the Liaoning aircraft carrier, and the first self-built domestic 001A aircraft carrier is expected to enter full service later in 2020. It is estimated that by 2030, China will have four active aircraft carrier battle groups.
Now, the 003 aircraft carrier engineering project is progressing very smoothly. The "Sea IV" stealth early warning aircraft will soon be launched under the auspices of the 601st Institute, including other supporting 10-ton Z-20 anti-submarine helicopters, fixed-wing air police-600 early warning aircraft, etc. China is using the advanced electromagnetic launch system (EMALS) on its third aircraft carrier. Analysts believe that the KJ-600 early warning aircraft can be launched with this system, which means that the KJ-600 will be deployed on the new aircraft carrier.
Observers believe that the KJ-600 debut is a clear signal that China is preparing a large aircraft carrier strike formation to fight far away from its coast. With an early warning aircraft, it means that the PLA Navy's aircraft carrier battle group is designed for long-sea operations, so a more comprehensive early warning aircraft is needed. The KJ-600 is a response to the U.S. shifting more military power to the Asia-Pacific region, including the deployment of F-35 and Guam B-2 stealth bombers in Japan, and the involvement of the U.S. Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.
If China's Navy early warning aircraft can achieve the equivalent of E-2D in the future, it will not only greatly enhance the capability of the aircraft carrier formation to remotely detect, alert, guide and counter-steal the aircraft, but also theoretically guide the formation of the aircraft carrier's frigate anti-aircraft missiles and anti-ship missiles for ultra-horizon attacks, which greatly enhance the capacity of aircraft carrier formation against saturation attacks.
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