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Airshow China 2016: AVIC showcases YINGS III airborne targeting pod family
Kelvin Wong, Zhuhai, China - IHS Jane's International Defence Review
04 November 2016
Chinese defence prime Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is showcasing its latest YINGS III range of day and night capable airborne targeting pods at the Airshow China 2016 exhibition, which is being held in the southern city of Zhuhai from 1-6 November.
AVIC unveiled a full-sized mock up of the YINGS III model 330 airborne targeting pod at Airshow China 2016. (IHS/Kelvin Wong)
The YINGS III - which stands for Ying Sun III (Hawk III) - targeting pods are developed and manufactured by the company's Luoyang Electro-Optical Equipment Research Institute located in the central province of Henan, with the product portfolio presently comprising three variants with diameters of 330 mm (Model 330), 360 mm (Model 360), and 390 mm (Model 390).
According to AVIC, the YINGS III family adopts a modular architecture to enable the pods to be customised to suit a particular customer's mission requirements, although it can be fitted to most combat aircraft, bomber, and training platforms. A laser rangefinder/designator is a standard feature across all models and configurations, although the pods can be delivered with a high definition daylight CCD TV camera, a infrared (IR) sensor, or a combination of both.
"The YINGS III is a fully indigenous design and we are continually updating the family with our latest technologies," Zhao Jiuming, senior business manager and head of the institute's co-operation section, told IHS Jane's. "For example, the Model 330 shown for the first time here is designed for the latest generation of attack or multirole aircraft."
The latest entry to the YINGS III family is the Model 330, which weighs 230 kg and appears to draw heavily from Lockheed Martin AN/AAQ-33 Sniper advanced targeting pod (ATP) with its swept/faceted transparent sapphire fixed-shroud nose configuration and lightweight, aerodynamic structure which is designed to improve stability at high speed flight.
The YINGS III Model 390 airborne targeting pod has already entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force as well as at least one export customer. Seen here is a Model 390 pod at the Pakistan Air Force's JF-17 display. (IHS/Kelvin Wong)
AVIC states that the Model 330 provides a medium/narrow range field of view (FoV) of 3.6° x 2.7° and 1.2° x 0.9° respectively for the CCD TV camera while the IR sensor offers a FoV of 3.6° x 2.7° and 1.2° x 0.9°.
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