Future Chinese carrier-borne AEW: KJ-600 or KH-600

samsara · Jan 5, 2021

From Rick Joe @RickJoe_PLA on 2021.01.01:

Seems like additional details of KJ-600 will slowly get revealed. Catapult nose gear clearly obvious here. Can't quite see tailhook but might be present in the full picture, or alternatively might not be fit on first flight yet, but obviously structurally designed for it.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1344868168980865024

(a possibly newcomer in PLA Watching scenes, or perhaps merely lacks of patience

): “Can we get the full picture please? Whoever took the photo clearly has more than this.”

(some possibly Chinese netizen): “That's what they like to do in the Chinese forums... you just have to wait patiently until the full pics are released.”

waja2000 · Jan 16, 2021

KJ-600 re-name to KJ-20 more better? :laugh:

since new aircraft & heli also xx-20

JSCh · Jan 27, 2021

From WuMingShi912 via weibo,

samsara · Jan 27, 2021

JSCh said:
From WuMingShi912 via weibo,

View attachment 710896
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From Henri Kenhmann at East Pendulum on 2021.01.27:

A new photo series of China's first on-board AWACS, designed by the 603 Institute of the AVIC Group, is taken by a surfer near Yanliang. The prototype made its maiden flight in 2020.

Some talk about the appearance of the plane not far from Shanghai, to be confirmed.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1354404038834409475

Deino · Jan 28, 2021

Oh well, this hurts

... Anyway at least another piece of the puzzle on the way to a clear image of the PLAN's next generation carrierborne AEW, the KJ-600.

And allegedly "Oneninety" noted he would post the clear image in the future.

(Image via @Oneninety from Weibo)

samsara · Jan 29, 2021

China’s new KJ-600 surveillance aircraft completes latest test flight

SCMP | 2021-01-28

China’s KJ-600 early warning aircraft.jpg

China’s KJ-600 early warning aircraft is in its final stages of development. Photo: Weibo (CGI)

China put its new carrier-based early warning aircraft through its paces again on Wednesday, a military source said, after images of the plane were shared online.

“The [test] flight took place early on Wednesday morning in Xian,” said the People’s Liberation Army insider. “It was another regular test before the plane enters service.”

Speaking on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media, the source confirmed that the photographs shared on social media were of the KJ-600, China’s first domestically developed early warning plane, which is in its final stages of development.

The images showed an aircraft, with its distinctive radar system atop its fuselage and four vertical tail fins, in flight.

The KJ-600 made its maiden flight in August 2020, two years after Chinese state media confirmed such an aircraft was in development.

(...)

China’s new surveillance aircraft completes latest test flight

PLA’s KJ-600 carrier-based early warning aircraft took to the skies over Xian on Wednesday morning, military insider says.

www.scmp.com

Deino · Jan 29, 2021

Deino said:
Oh well, this hurts ... Anyway at least another piece of the puzzle on the way to a clear image of the PLAN's next generation carrierborne AEW, the KJ-600.

And allegedly "Oneninety" noted he would post the clear image in the future.

(Image via @Oneninety from Weibo)

View attachment 711175

Here's another one in a slightly different position. Looks as if the first one points towards us, whereas in this one its facing away from us.

LKJ86 · Feb 8, 2021

Via @钢铁机机 from Weibo

Deino · Feb 12, 2021

Well ... still not a clear image, but by far the best we have until today: An image showing the XAC KJ-600 carrierborne AEW prototype no. 60001 in flight. (Image via @矩阵航空Acer31 from Weibo)