China’s aerial demonstration in December went beyond the two stealth fighter concepts that appeared in flight just after Christmas.
Another critical aircraft was photographed in flight, but at high altitude, the KJ-3000, a four-engine Airborne Early Warning (AEW&C) jet.
Based on the Y-20 airlifter, the new radar plane sports a rotating radome on the roof, following the older sensor concept, but the aircraft is also expected to carry fixed side-mounted AESA radars.
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The clearer image of the KJ-3000 had its fuselage deliberately blurred, perhaps a move by the government, which controls content on Chinese social media.
The KJ-3000 will replace the KJ-2000, an AEW aircraft based on the old Russian Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft. It is equipped with WS-20 high-thrust turbofans, which are more powerful and fuel-efficient.
In addition, the new aircraft features an aerial refueling boom, a feature necessary to remain in the air for hours on end on surveillance.
The PLAAF (People’s Liberation Army Air Force) also has in its fleet the KJ-700 turboprop, which has a similar configuration to the KJ-300, but more limited performance.
