Test Flight of Early Warning Aircraft Based on Chinese Aircraft Carrier

Likely to be Deployed on China's Third Aircraft Carrier... Enhancement of Carrier Combat Capability

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The Chinese People's Liberation Army has conducted a test flight of the carrier-based early warning aircraft (KJ-600), according to China's state-run Global Times on the 2nd.

The Global Times reported that an aircraft presumed to be the KJ-600 was captured in commercial satellite images in Xi'an, Shanxi Province, northwest China.

The newspaper stated, "China has been focusing on developing a carrier-based early warning system," adding, "Once the early warning aircraft is deployed in actual combat, the combat capability of Chinese aircraft carriers will be greatly enhanced."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Currently, Chinese aircraft carriers are reported to rely on early warning helicopters. When the carrier-based early warning system is deployed in actual combat, the surveillance range will increase up to 500 km.

China is currently operating two types of early warning aircraft, the KJ-2000 and KJ-500, but they have limitations in supporting aircraft carriers.

China's carrier-based early warning aircraft is said to resemble the U.S. Navy's 'E-2C Hawkeye' in appearance.

The newspaper reported that it is highly likely that the new early warning aircraft will be deployed on China's third aircraft carrier. The third Chinese aircraft carrier will be equipped with a state-of-the-art Electromagnetic Catapult, facilitating the takeoff and landing of early warning aircraft.

China's Liaoning and Shandong carriers use a ski-jump ramp instead of a catapult to launch aircraft. China's third aircraft carrier is expected to be deployed in actual combat by 2025.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.