Posted on 02/25/2005 6:28:35 AM PST by Jeff Head
The People's Republic of China, after more than a decade of efforts which saw the cancellation of an intital Israeli project to provide them with the capability (at the behest of the United States), have now produced their own first modern AWACS aircraft and placed them in service.
The aircraft are based on the Russian Beriev A-50 Mainstay airframe but use wholly Chinese created phased array radar components housed in a non-rotating dome, providing 360 degree coverage.
Two aircraft have been built and two more are rapidly being completed for placing in service.
Capabilities of the Chinese phased array system are unknown, but believed to be on par with the Russian conventional AWACS capability of tracking 60-100 aircraft at once in a 250 mile radius air space and directing 12 or more fighters to all weather, day or night engagements simultaneously. In air refueling capability is included.
In additrion to this capabiliy, the People's Republic is also developing an AWACS capability based on the shorter ranged Y-8 turboprop aircraft. It is thought that the system is either similar to, or a derivitive of, the Swedish Ericsson PS-890 Erieye system and can therfore be used for either aircraft control, electronic intelligence, ground mapping and targeting missions.
It is not thought that any of the Y-8 aircraft are operational as of yet.
I'm sure the French and Germans see this as another market to exploit. They probably can't wait to upgrade the avionics and radar capabilities of the aircraft - they are our allies in name.
They had older, antiquarted capabilites, but were trying to get something modern ten years ago. But the Israeli deal fell through just before completion and they had to then start over and devel;oped an indiginopus design for the radar. They went Phased array...which is a more modern design.
Apparently, there may have already been some purchasing going on between Sweden and the PLAAF for that Y-8 turbo-prop design.
FYI
However, I'm not sure if the AWACS based on the Y-8 turboprop transport is a good idea, though. That plane has relatively short range to start with and given that you want AWACS to be in the air several hours at a time....
My guess on the Y-8 turboprop is that it is either for export...or perhaps may be a candidate for a future PLAN carrier. The mainstay design certainly could not fir that role at all. If the Y-8 is, or could be modified for STAL duty, then it might.
By going with a propellor-type aircraft, doesn't that allow them to operate at a lower airspeed (less number-crunching when tracking things)? Something like this might be good for monitoring a coastal region like, say, the Taiwan Strait, where they don't need the long range or high speed. Prop planes like this tend to be a little more rugged than their jet counterparts, as well.
Didn't I just say that the Y-8 turboprop transport--which is based on the Soviet-era Antonov An-12 transport of the early 1960's--has relatively short range? You'd think they would put that candy-bar shaped radar on the A-50 derivative instead, which makes a lot more sense.
Just to add, according to FAS, there is a maritime version of the y-8 that has a 5,600km range, which would be more than enough to do coastal patrols. The maritime version already has a pretty sophisticated down-looking radar system. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the AWACS system they are installing takes the space of that radar system rather neatly (minus the big radome on the bottom of the plane of course).
FYI
Thanks for the ping!
Having access to one of our AWACS aircraft couldn't POSSIBLY had anything to do with this!!!!
No, not at all
The dragon will awaken...
</tinfoil beanie>
Top sends
Considering they've never had access to one of our AWACS aircraft, it likely didn't.
(Hint: an EP-3 is not an AWACS and is nothing like an AWACS.)
I'm actually sort of shocked this thread made 15 posts without someone claiming Clinton gave them the AWACS.
These, on the other hand, will all work very nicely In order shown: F-18, F-14, F-22, F-15, F-35 (JSF), and F-16).
I'm not aware of any specific, direct AWACS technology transfers. Basic computer processing and minituarization capabilities certainly have helped them across the board...but for specific AWACS, they had to go to Russia and try to go to Israel, and then develop the rest themselves.
With all the upcoming budget cuts will we even have the F-22 and F-35? I guess I got the air to air capability from Clancy's Red Storm Rising.
Now, basic computer processing and minituarization capabilities certainly have helped them across the board...but for specific AWACS, they had to go to Russia and try to go to Israel, and then develop the rest themselves.
As to the Dragon awakening here in the 21st centruy, I agree. I have written about a potential scenario regarding the Dragon's Fury.
Clinton didn't sell them a couple?
The Super Hornet is a good bird...and we are already producing those in numbers.
If you are interested in a good current day read regarding WW III scenarios with China, please consider The Dragon's Fury Series.
Best Fregards.
hehehe. Our own dollars are being used against us. Ultimately, they will be used to kill our people IMHO.
Thank you gentlemen. Seems this is my day to have misconceptions corrected!
Top sends
Good copy. Best Fregards.
Sure looks like a C-130 and a C-141 to me.
Too short and stocky for a C-141 IMHO...wings in wrong position too in relation to the rest of the fuselage.
<p.
On the Y-8, they are using four bladed props...and though you can't see it, the front of the aircraft is significantly different than the 130.
Remember when I reviewed Vols I and II of the Dragon's Fury Series, I specifically made a point of how much it had presaged reality.
Now, day in and day out, your prescience gets eerier and eerier. And not just China; Iran, India-Pakistan, etc.
Quite a crystal ball you've got there, Jeff. Want to suggest some lottery numbers for me?
Thanks. Maybe I should have said "resembles" which is sorta what I meant.
Bingo. Keep on the trail, keep turning over more stones and see what crawls out.
Good work.
FYI.
My guess is the Chinese, along with their huge naval, missile, army, etc buildupo and modernization programs, are going to build quite a few of these.
I pray that Bush and follow-on administrations will take that danger seriously. With recent moves and announcments, I believe they are. I hope we can avoid the prospect of out and out war, but the game is fairly far advanced.
Thanks, WILCO.
Yea, I have purchased the entire series. A good read for anybody interested in the China vs USA (maybe coming conflict)!!
IMHO, we should have gotten really "rough" about the Hainan incident right there and then without any delay, no B.S.
That would have been an excellent time to kick them down the stairs and jump on them. I still cannot get over our response to that brazen act. It looks like we will let China get away with everything, even forcing our own planes down and stealing our technology right in front of us. The outrageous effrontery of their behavior as exhibited by the Hainan incident should have provoked an overwhelming, disproportionate military response, but we let them get away with it.
beutiful!
The entire series was a "project" on my part to try and get what I consider to be important information out regarding this whole situation, and do it in a manner that would hopefully catch people's imagination and get them to thinking.
1993 was a very good year for Chinese military technology, wasn't it?
We can still do it now...but the cost and impact have ratcheted up significantly and we may not be able to avoid a fight at this point. But still, better now than in another five or ten years IMHO.
True enough. I believe it is likely the "orange menace" (cheap shoot, red + yellow....) will be a severe thorn in our side, without even the benefit of an undeclared "cold war." I think I'll break out my copy of Red Dawn and screen it again.
Stay alert,
Top sends
Are we still playing the game of the '50s where we armed our enemies in order to have a 'threat' to arm ourselves against?
"Stay alert"
Roger that
Looks like big TARGETS to me, Jeff.
I don't think range for the Y-8 would be a serious drawback,given that they can outfit it with aerial refuelling systems & you could assume the Chinese have a clear purpose in building 2 separate systems.I really don't see much export potential for the Y-8 as Sweden has already offered the Erieye to Pakistan(potential customer) & the Middle-East,with the only likely customer being Iran(if the Mullahs last long enough!!).
Jeff,I don't see how something as big as the Y-8 or even a downgraded variant can take off from an American carrier,let alone a Russian style carrier(which is what China is probably working on).My own guess is that they will go for a Helo based AEW capability on their carriers, as is found on the Russian Ka-31 & British SeaKing.They already purchased the Searchwater radar system from Britain in the 80s.
LOL! They are that. Big and expensive.
AWACS systems are not exactly an area of expertise for the French & German.IIRC,the French military uses both the E-2C & the E-3.
The Chinese certainly are thanking the United Nations and the United States for the latest in electronic technology.
This New World Order and the treaty rules of sharing everything that is considered sophisticated technology will bring China into the modern day world much quicker.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.