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Shaanxi KJ-200

Airborne early warning and control aircraft From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shaanxi KJ-200
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The KJ-200 (NATO reporting name: Moth[1]) is an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft developed by the Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation[2] of China. It is a variant of the Shaanxi Y-8 military transport aircraft and also called the Y-8W. Enthusiasts called it the GX-5.[3]

Quick facts KJ-200, General information ...
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Design and development

Development began in 2002 after the United States blocked the sale of the Israeli EL/W-2090 Phalcon radar to China.[4] According to Science and Technology Daily, Ouyang Shaoxiu, Shaanxi's chief designer, was the program's chief designer, and 80% of the Y-8 was modified to create the KJ-200.[5]

The primary sensor is a JY-06 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar[4] mounted in a "plank" or 'balance beam" housing above the fuselage;[6][4] the configuration resembles various uses of the Ericsson Erieye radar system.[7]

The aircraft's first flight was in January 2005. The second aircraft crashed in 2006 due to wing icing; the crash "almost derailed" the program.[4]

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Operational history

The KJ-200 aircraft entered service with the People's Liberation Army in 2007.[8] Its first official public appearance was at the 2009 Chinese National Day Parade.[9]

In February 2017, a US Navy Lockheed P-3 Orion and a KJ-200 inadvertently passed within 1,000 feet (300 meters) of each other over the South China Sea.[10][11]

Variants

KJ-200
Base variant.
KJ-200A
Modified KJ-200 with revised nose section and new electronics. First observed in December 2016.[12]
"KJ-200AG"
Unofficial designation for KJ-200A with inflight air refueling probe.[12]
KJ-200H
Modified KJ-200 for PLA Navy.[12]
KJ-200B
Adds satellite communications and new electronics.[8] First observed in 2016. Entered service in 2023.[12]

Operators

 People's Republic of China

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

Sources

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