Chinese Y-8W / KJ-200 Balanced Beam Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Aircraft

The Y-8W / KJ-200 Balanced Beam airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) uses a dual-sided Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) array housed in a dorsal 'plank' fairing which is mounted on the top of a modified Y-8F-600 Category III Platform with JL-4 6-blade propellers.

The  KJ-200 Balanced Beam  AEW&C has the capability to search and track the targets in 150° on both sides aircraft. The Y-8W / KJ-200 AEW&C has been designed to complement the larger KJ-2000 AEW&C. It is being inducted in both the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy).

When compared to the Saab 340 & Saab 2000 platforms, Y-8F-600 airframe offers more spacious cabins for electronics & operator consoles, long-range and extend mission endurance exceeding 10 hours. 

The details of the  dual-sided Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) array radome on Y-8W / KJ-200 Balanced Beam airborne early warning and control (AEW&C).

The details of the wingtip ESM radome on Y-8W / KJ-200 Balanced Beam airborne early warning and control (AEW&C).

The Nose radomes on Y-8W / KJ-200 Balanced Beam airborne early warning and control (AEW&C)

Posted in: AWACS,China,Peoples Liberation Army Air Force,Peoples Liberation Army Navy