Beijing Invests Heavily In Airborne Early Warning Capabilities
China is making significant progress with its airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) fleet, with new aircraft such as the Xian KJ-3000 and KJ-600 entering development. The KJ-3000, in particular, is a truly indigenous aircraft with advanced capabilities, including a rotating radar dome and an infrared search and track sensor. However, China’s AEW&C platforms face vulnerabilities in modern warfare, including the risk of being destroyed on the ground or in the air. According to FlightGlobal, China’s expanding AEW&C fleet represents a key dimension of its military modernization efforts.