China’s New KJ-3000 AEW&C Aircraft Marks Major Leap in Aerial Surveillance Power

China’s New KJ-3000 AEW&C Aircraft Marks Major Leap in Aerial Surveillance Power

China has quietly rolled out a powerful new tool in its quest for air superiority and regional influence in the Indo-Pacific: the KJ-3000 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. Newly released imagery confirms the development of the system, which leverages the country’s indigenous Y-20 airlifter platform, signaling a decisive step forward in China’s aerospace ambitions.

One of the areas where the People's Republic of China is making significant efforts is the expansion of its early warning and airborne control capabilities. This is demonstrated by the development of a series of new AEW&C aircraft to equip both the Navy (PLAN) and the People's Liberation Army (PLAAF) Air Force, highlighting in this regard the new KJ-3000, currently in flight testing and assessment phase.

China’s New KJ-3000 Airborne Early Warning Radar Jet Seen In Detail In New Image

New imagery has emerged of China’s new heavyweight airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform, the KJ-3000, of which the first, low-quality photos began to appear last December, as we reported at the time. Based on the four-jet Y-20 cargo plane, the KJ-3000 is part of a fast-expanding and diversifying fleet of Chinese AEW&C aircraft, which also includes multiple iterations based on the four-turboprop Y-9 series of airlifters. While you …