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KJ-500
	KJ-500
Role	Airborne early warning and control (AEW&C)
National origin	China
Manufacturer	Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation
Number built	34+
Developed from	Shaanxi Y-9

The Shaanxi KJ-500 (Chinese: 空警-500; pinyin: Kōngjǐng Wǔbǎi; literally: "Air Warning 500") is a third-generation airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). It was built by Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation,^[2] and is based on the Y-9 airframe.

Development

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the detection range and the accuracy of airborne radars have been increasing, and fighters equipped with various types of air-to-air missiles and low-altitude cruise missiles continue to improve in performance, creating a demand for a more capable AEW&C. To address the above issues, China started the development of the KJ-500, its third AEW&C, in the late 2000s. The KJ-500 was required to have three important features, which are good detection capability, good identification ability, and quick responsiveness. The KJ-500 was also required to be the core force of the information combat system, its equipped technology has four major characteristics, which are networking, multi-functionality, high-integration, and lightweight.^[3]

The aircraft carries a fixed dorsal radome containing three AESA radar arrays for 360-degree coverage and is said to be more efficient than the two-planar 'balance beam' array design used on the earlier KJ-200. Production of older AEW&C types reportedly ceased production in 2018 in response to the KJ-500 reaching full operational capability.^[4]

Operational history

In March 2022, General Kenneth Wilsbach, commander of U.S. Pacific Air Forces, identified the KJ-500 as enablers for long-range Chinese air-to-air missiles.^[5]

Variants

KJ-500: Base variant
KJ-500H: Variant for PLA Navy.^[6]
KJ-500A: Improved variant with an aerial refueling probe. Debut in Zhuhai Airshow 2022.^[7]

Operators

People's Republic of China

People's Liberation Army Air Force - 20 KJ-500^[1]
People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force - 14+ KJ-500H^[8]

Specifications

Limited performance parameters of KJ-500 have been published as follows:^[9]

Max speed (km/h): 550
Max range (km): 5700
Max endurance (h): 12
Max takeoff weight(tons): 77
Range against fighter sized targets (km): 470^[10]

References

^ ^a ^b For Strategic Studies (Iiss), The International Institute (15 February 2023). "6 Asia". The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003400226. ISBN 9781003400226. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ "空警-500：中国预警机家族新明星" (in Chinese). Xinhua. 31 October 2015. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
^ Technology characteristics of the 3rd generation early warning aircraft and its electronic reconnaissance system，ZHEN JunYi, China Academy of Electronics and Science，Beijing 100041，China
^ The Military Balance 2022. International Institute for Strategic Studies. 2022. p. 261. ISBN 978-1-032-27900-8.
^ Waldron, Greg (16 March 2022). "F-35s have encountered J-20s over East China Sea: USAF general". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
^ Newdick, Thomas; Rupprecht, Andreas (5 April 2023). "China's Massive Fleet Of Radar Planes And The Strategy Behind It". The War Zone.
^ Trevithick, Joseph (7 November 2022). "All The Air Combat Developments Out Of China's Massive Air Show". The Drive.
^ The Military Balance 2022. International Institute for Strategic Studies. 2022. p. 260. ISBN 978-1-032-27900-8.
^ "Expert: KJ-500 improves China's overall military power". China Military Online. 16 February 2016. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
^ Lei, zhao (4 September 2015). "PLA deploys advanced jets to boost electronic capability". China Daily. Retrieved 30 July 2018.