Xi'an KJ-600

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Xi'an KJ-600
Role Carrier-capable transport / carrier onboard delivery / airborne early warning and control
National origin China
Manufacturer Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation
First flight29 August 2020
Introduction3 September 2025 [1]
StatusIn service
Primary user People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
Number built4-6 [2]
Developed from Xian JZY-01

The Xi'an KJ-600 is a Chinese twin-propeller, quad-tail, high-wing military aircraft designed for cargo and airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) intended for carrier-based operations, to be deployed on Type 003 aircraft carriers of the People's Liberation Army Navy from around 2025. [3]

Contents

Design and development

The KJ-600 is a high-straight wing aircraft reportedly powered by a pair of WJ-6 turboprop engine, and sports a quad-fin tailplane, tricycle gear and a large dorsal radome suspected to be fitted with an AESA-type system. A non-flying model was observed on a concrete mockup carrier at the Wuhan electronic testing facility in 2019. The mockup has a striking external resemblance to the aftward-folding Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye. [4]

The aircraft made its maiden flight on 29 August 2020. [5] Flight testing continued in 2021. [6] [7] A prototype in flight was spotted by aircraft observers above the testing facility in October 2021. [8] [9] In late 2023 "intensive trials" were underway with at least four, possibly even six, prototypes, according to Gu Min Chul. [2]

On 3 September 2025, Chinese state media China Daily announced that KJ-600 is deployed with the People's Liberation Army Navy. [1]

Strategic implication

Analyst H. I. Sutton believed the KJ-600 will be a massive boost to the PLA Navy, and "[o]nce it enters service on the carriers, it will greatly enhance the aerial and maritime situational awareness [...] [a]nd the offensive and defensive capabilities of the carrier group", and that "Chinese aerospace and military industry has certainly shown its ability to develop quite modern and capable AEW&C systems for other air, naval and ground applications". [4]

Specifications (KJ-600)

General characteristics

Performance

Avionics
3-way AESA radars arranged in a triangular configuration [8]

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. 1 2 Zhao, Lei (3 September 2025). "All types of fifth-generation combat planes displayed at V-Day parade". China Daily.
  2. 1 2 Gu, Min Chul. "China's new carrier-based AEW aircraft undergoes intensive trials". Defence Blog. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  3. ↑ https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/27336-kj-600-china-s-hawkeye-successfully-completes-flight-test
  4. 1 2 Sutton, H. I. (13 September 2020). "China's New Carrier Early-Warning Plane Is More Than A Hawkeye Clone". Forbes . Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  5. ↑ Suciu, Peter (5 September 2020). "The Xian KJ-600 Could Make China's Aircraft Carriers Far More Powerful". The National Interest . Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  6. ↑ Huang, Kristin (28 January 2021). "China's new KJ-600 surveillance aircraft completes latest test flight". South China Morning Post . Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  7. ↑ Dominguez, Gabriel (23 February 2021). "China confirms ongoing flight-tests of KJ-600 AEW aircraft". Janes. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  8. 1 2 Vavasseur, Xavier (29 October 2021). "China's Future Carrier Airwing: New Stealth Fighter And AWACS Spotted In Flight". Naval News. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  9. ↑ Cenciotti, David (29 October 2021). "China's New Carrier-Based Stealth Fighter Makes First Flight". The Aviationist. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
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