Xi'an KJ-3000

The Xi'an KJ-3000 (Chinese: 空警-3000; pinyin: Kōngjǐng Sānqiān; lit. 'Airwarning-3000') is a Chinese quadjet high-wing military aircraft designed for the airborne early warning and control (AEW&C), communication intelligence (COMINT), electronic intelligence (ELINT) missions. Developed by the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation, it is based on the Xi'an Y-20B military transport aircraft platform, modified to incorporate an air-refueling probe, indigenous Shenyang WS-20 high-bypass turbofan engines, and new-generation avionics and air surveillance radar suite, featuring active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars. The KJ-3000 is part of the new generation Chinese AEW&C systems, alongside the KJ-600 and KJ-700.

History and development

In 2013, Chinese media began reporting on the development of the KJ-3000, a replacement for the Shaanxi KJ-2000 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. In 2016, Chinese media speculated that Xi'an Y-20 will be used as the platform for the new AEW&C aircraft. In 2019, the chief designer of the Y-20, Tang Changhong, suggested the Y-20 as possible basis for the KJ-3000.

The KJ-3000 was first spotted flight testing on 27 December 2024. The flying aircraft was a Y-20B with WS-20 engines, recently inducted with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), and modified with a dorsal radome. Analysts observed a thick line dividing the radome, suggesting it likely rotates and hosts two active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars.

New KJ-3000 prototypes were spotted in March and May 2025. Two prototypes, number 7821 and 7822, were observed as of 2026.

Design

The KJ-3000 is based on the Xi'an Y-20B transport aircraft airframe, featuring the indigenously developed and built Shenyang WS-20 turbofan engines, an in-flight refueling probe, a new top-mounted radome containing a pair of active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, communication intelligence (COMINT) antennas, electronic intelligence (ELINT) antennas, and satellite communication systems. New panels hosting datalinks and other electronic detection systems are fitted around the aircraft fuselage.

The KJ-3000 features more efficient WS-20 engines and aerial refueling capabilities, which would offer improved range, endurance, and a higher operational altitude compared to its predecessors. The new engines also provide superior electrical generation capability.

Unlike China's previous KJ-500 and KJ-2000, both of which featured fixed radomes with three AESA arrays, the KJ-3000 features a rotating radome design with two AESA arrays. The KJ-3000 is equipped with an infrared search and track (IRST) sensor, allowing the aircraft to detect thermal signatures, which would be useful against stealth aircraft with low radar cross-section (RCS) or in contested environments where radars are jammed.

Operators

China People's Republic of China

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

  1. ↑ Makichuk, Dave (26 February 2020). "China's Y-20 variants make rapid progress: officer". Asia Times.
  2. ↑ Newdick, Thomas; Rupprecht, Andreas (5 April 2023). "China's Massive Fleet Of Radar Planes And The Strategy Behind It". The War Zone.
  3. ↑ Liu, Zhen (5 August 2025). "What do we know about China's most advanced early warning plane, the KJ-3000?". South China Moring Post.
  4. ↑ "China's AEW&C KJ-3000 air-to-surface combat aircraft – China Daily Mail". China Daily Mail. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "China to Develop AEW&C Aircraft on Y-20 Transport Plane Platform". Archived from the original on 2016-10-24. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  6. 1 2 3 Kadidal, Akhil (10 June 2025). "New imagery of China's KJ-3000 reveals key features". Janes. Archived from the original on 12 July 2026.
  7. ↑ Trevithick, Joseph (27 December 2024). "China's New Domestically Developed Y-20 Airborne Early Warning Jet Spotted". The War Zone.
  8. ↑ Sakurai, Rin (27 December 2024). "First Photos of Chinese KJ-3000 AEW Aircraft in Flight Emerge Online". The Aviationist.
  9. ↑ Waldron, Greg (30 December 2024). "Beijing ups AEW&C game with emergence of KJ-3000". Flightglobal.
  10. 1 2 Malayil, Jijo (1 January 2025). "China unveils KJ-3000 early warning aircraft to boost radar tech, surveillance range". Interesting Engineering.
  11. 1 2 Newdick, Thomas (27 May 2025). "China's New KJ-3000 Airborne Early Warning Radar Jet Seen In Detail In New Image". The War Zone.
  12. ↑ Satam, Parth (29 May 2025). "China's KJ-3000 AEW&C Aircraft Captured in Clearest Image Yet". The Aviationist.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Lee, May (18 April 2026). "China's AEW&C fleet is growing, but can it survive modern warfare?". Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 18 April 2026.
  14. ↑ Chen, Chuanren (26 June 2025). "New Imagery Sheds Light On China's KJ-3000 AEW&C Capabilities". Aviation Week. Archived from the original on 30 June 2025.
  15. ↑ Saballa, Joe (2 January 2025). "China Flaunts New KJ-3000 Early Warning and Control Aircraft". Defense Post.
  16. ↑ Chan, Ryan (6 January 2025). "China Unveils New Eye in the Sky to Detect US Aircraft". Newsweek.