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

Development

The aircraft made its maiden flight on 29 August 2020. [4] Flight testing continued in 2021. [5] [6] A prototype in flight was spotted by aircraft observers above the testing facility in October 2021. [7] 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, one KJ-600 attended the 80th Anniversary of Victory over Japan military parade as part of the flypast over Tiananmen Square, appearing to the public for the first time. Chinese state media China Daily announced that KJ-600 is deployed with the People's Liberation Army Navy. [1]

As of 2025, a cargo variant of the KJ-600 for carrier onboard delivery (COD) was likely under development. [8]

Design

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 active electronically scanned array (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. [9]

The KJ-600 serves the airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) roles on the Fujian carrier, extending the detection, surveillance, and command and control range of the carrier strike group. [10]

Operational history

On 22 September 2025, the Chinese state broadcaster released multiple videos and photos showing the complete catapult launch and recovery (CATOBAR) sequence for the Xi'an KJ-600, Shenyang J-15T, and Shenyang J-35 aircraft on the Type 003 Fujian aircraft carrier, via the ship's electromagnetic catapults. [11] With three aircraft certified for CATOBAR operations, the PLA Navy also announced that Fujian had achieved "initial full-deck operational capability", which laid the foundation for the future integration with the carrier aviation wing and the carrier strike group. [12] [13] The certification test were likely conudcted before September. [14] [15]

Strategic implication

USNI analyst H. I. Sutton believes that 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". [9]

Specifications (KJ-600)

General characteristics

Performance

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. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ Huang, Kristin (28 January 2021). "China's new KJ-600 surveillance aircraft completes latest test flight". South China Morning Post . Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  6. ↑ Dominguez, Gabriel (23 February 2021). "China confirms ongoing flight-tests of KJ-600 AEW aircraft". Janes. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  7. ↑ Cenciotti, David (29 October 2021). "China's New Carrier-Based Stealth Fighter Makes First Flight". The Aviationist. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  8. ↑ Waldron, Greg (23 September 2025). "China commences flight tests from Fujian aircraft carrier using electromagnetic launch system and arrested landings". FlightGlobal.
  9. 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.
  10. ↑ Satam, Parth (22 September 2025). "J-35, J-15 and KJ-600 Shown Operating Off PLA Navy's Fujian Carrier". The Aviationist.
  11. ↑ Xiao, Josh (22 September 2025). "China Showcases Electromagnetic Carrier Catapult For First Time". Bloomberg News.
  12. ↑ Zhao, Lei (22 September 2025). "CNS Fujian achieves milestone with electromagnetic launch of advanced Naval aircraft". China Daily.
  13. ↑ Chen, Chuanren (22 September 2025). "China Validates Fixed-Wing EMALS Launch, Recovery On Carrier Fujian". Aviation Week.
  14. ↑ Lariosa, Aaron-Matthew (22 September 2025). "Chinese Aircraft Carrier Fujian Launches Stealth Jet, Early Warning Aircraft in Catapult Tests". UNSI News.
  15. ↑ Yeo, Mike (22 September 2025). "China shows catapult launches of carrierborne aircraft for the first time". Breaking Defense.
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