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KJ-600 early warning aircraft makes official debut; completing Chinese carrier group's 'final puzzle piece': expert

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun, Fan Wei and Liang Rui Published: Sep 03, 2025 01:34 PM

At China's V-Day military parade on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, KJ-600 and J-15T carrier-based aircraft were reviewed in a flight formation, marking the long-awaited debut of the KJ-600, China's carrier-borne fixed-wing early warning aircraft.

A military affairs expert told the Global Times that the commissioning of the KJ-600 marks the completion of the "final piece of puzzle" for aircraft carrier group operations, significantly enhancing the offensive and defensive combat capabilities of China's carrier groups.

"The KJ-600 can be described as a force multiplier for carrier-based aircraft in an aviation formation," said military affairs expert Zhang Xuefeng. He told the Global Times that the KJ-600 enhances the defensive capabilities of aircraft carrier groups. While China's aircraft carrier groups now have destroyers and frigates for detection and early warning missions, long-range radars of these vessels face limitations in detecting extremely low-flying sea-skimming targets due to the curvature of the Earth. "A key function of carrier-based early warning aircraft is to detect these ultra-low-altitude targets," Zhang said.

Zhang further noted that before fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft were available, this task was typically performed by carrier-based helicopters. However, the radar on carrier-based helicopters is relatively small, with a limited detection range and shorter endurance. In contrast, fixed-wing early warning aircraft offer significantly longer endurance and can carry larger radars, enabling them to detect sea-skimming targets flying at low altitudes from much greater distances, thereby better ensuring the safety of the carrier group. "Simultaneously, they can guide fighter jets or missiles to carry out defensive strikes, enhancing the carrier groups' survivability in the far seas," he said.

Fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft can also enhance the carrier's offensive combat capabilities. Zhang said that a key function of aircraft carriers is carrying out strike missions against land and sea targets, which requires carrier groups to be forward deployed into target areas, most of which lie beyond the detection and support range of land-based radars. "Fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft can be deployed to undertake detection and support missions, conduct airborne command operations, and effectively enhance the strike capabilities of carrier groups against land and sea targets," Zhang said.