Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Data Figure: China’s transport network on the spread of improved carrier-based early warning aircraft, wind tunnel tests -7 pictures

According to Japan” diplomat “website reported on May 19 , Kuznetsov (Japanese media called “Shi Lang” number) aircraft carrier is expected to be officially commissioned this year or next year; in equipment, the need to balance the Chinese Navy with a variety of combat aircraft, in order to optimize the air war, bombing, antisubmarine warfare, airborne early warning and electronic warfare capacity.

Japanese media said, in which the airborne early warning and electronic warfare is the most complex and most difficult to master air combat missions, but also the most important. If there is no strong air radar and radar detection devices, “Shi Lang” aircraft and other aircraft F -15 bound to be limited ability to detect, and their respective radar detected only allowed to detect the range. For the carrier, the sea level limit of the radar detection range; aircraft radome radar is limited by the size detection capability was also severely restricted.

The article said that China has been a clear need for airborne early warning aircraft; but until this month, China seems to consider only the most conservative choice. However, the photo has leaked all of this. The world’s major naval air to take a different approach to early warning, and only use the world’s leading carrier state; such as the United States and France, with large fixed-wing aircraft: US-made E-2 “Hawkeye” early warning aircraft. Smaller size of the Navy, such as Russia, Italy and the UK, use of portable hanging under a helicopter or tilt fixed radar. E-2 “Hawkeye” early warning aircraft are large than any helicopter, flying is also higher; it can use its radar to carry farther the target. According to reports, the new service of the U.S. Navy E-2D can detect the distance of 400 miles.

Japanese media said, warning on China’s Naval Air R & D focused on rumors of the initial reports of Russian-made cards -31 China Z-8 helicopters and helicopter improved model. In April, there has been an online People’s Liberation Army Navy gray paint of Z-8 helicopter photos; This is the PLA Navy selected the competitors of the Russian helicopter rather than a strong hint. Japanese media said, but in May on another forum posted the photos in China is given a fixed-wing Navy airborne early warning aircraft. This picture is vague, it is said was taken in Xi’an; it seems to show a significant body back with circular radar aircraft.

Japanese media said that China has been a large transport aircraft to the Air Force tries to airborne early warning aircraft. Now it is testing a few frames with circular top of radome IL-76 transport aircraft; while also trying to Y-8 medium transport aircraft radome installed on the balance beam, but the two designs are not suitable for aircraft carrier. However, a similar 23 t E-2 “Hawkeye” early warning aircraft may be just right; the plane end up with a rare four-layout, and E-2 is quite similar. In any case, if the photo was taken in Xi’an, did show the Navy early warning aircraft, “Kuznetsov” was the combat capability will be far stronger than the original design. (Sri Lanka years)

(edit: SN049)