Pakistan's Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircrafts

[Lankan Ranger]

Pakistan to receive first ZDK-03 AEW&C aircraft by January 2011

Pakistan will receive the first of four Shaanxi ZDK-03 airborne early warning and control system aircraft by the end of January 2011.

The other three aircraft are likely to arrive later in the year, says the Pakistan air force.

"The ZDK-03s have been developed to our specifications," says the air force. "It won't be an E-3C Sentry, but it will have the latest electronics and everything an AEW&C aircraft needs."

The Chinese-built aircraft will have an active electronically scanned array radar, and its open architecture electronics will allow for future developments and upgrades.

Pakistan has also received its third of four Erieye radar-equipped Saab 2000s being acquired from Sweden, with the final aircraft likely to arrive in the coming months. The four-engined Chinese aircraft has a greater range than the Saab, say sources.

The ZDK-03 deal underlines the strong military ties between Pakistan and China. The countries have also jointly developed the Chengdu JF-17 Thunder fighter, of which Pakistan is likely to buy 200.

Pakistan to receive first ZDK-03 AEW&C aircraft

 

[Safriz]

The great big debate about AESA non AESA and AEW&C or AWACS has finally been settled?

 

[Dil Pakistan]

Pakistan to receive first ZDK-03 AEW&C aircraft by January 2011

Pakistan will receive the first of four Shaanxi ZDK-03 airborne early warning and control system aircraft by the end of January 2011.

The other three aircraft are likely to arrive later in the year, says the Pakistan air force.

"The ZDK-03s have been developed to our specifications," says the air force. "It won't be an E-3C Sentry, but it will have the latest electronics and everything an AEW&C aircraft needs."

The Chinese-built aircraft will have an active electronically scanned array radar, and its open architecture electronics will allow for future developments and upgrades.

Pakistan has also received its third of four Erieye radar-equipped Saab 2000s being acquired from Sweden, with the final aircraft likely to arrive in the coming months. The four-engined Chinese aircraft has a greater range than the Saab, say sources.

The ZDK-03 deal underlines the strong military ties between Pakistan and China. The countries have also jointly developed the Chengdu JF-17 Thunder fighter, of which Pakistan is likely to buy 200.

Pakistan to receive first ZDK-03 AEW&C aircraft

It would be nice to know the detailed specifications of onboard equipmetn, but, I know PAF will keep it under wraps as ususal.

Good Luck to PAKISTAN and PAF

 

[unicorn]

Pakistan to receive first ZDK-03 AEW&C aircraft
By Greg Waldron

Pakistan will receive the first of four Shaanxi ZDK-03 airborne early warning and control system aircraft by the end of January 2011.

The other three aircraft are likely to arrive later in the year, says the Pakistan air force.
"The ZDK-03s have been developed to our specifications," says the air force. "It won't be an E-3C Sentry, but it will have the latest electronics and everything an AEW&C aircraft needs."

The Chinese-built aircraft will have an active electronically scanned array radar, and its open architecture electronics will allow for future developments and upgrades.
Pakistan has also received its third of four Erieye radar-equipped Saab 2000s being acquired from Sweden, with the final aircraft likely to arrive in the coming months. The four-engined Chinese aircraft has a greater range than the Saab, say sources.
The ZDK-03 deal underlines the strong military ties between Pakistan and China. The countries have also jointly developed the Chengdu JF-17 Thunder fighter, of which Pakistan is likely to buy 200.

Purchasing AEW&C aircraft from two separate sources is indicative of Pakistan's strategy of not becoming too reliant on any one ally. The USA imposed military sanctions against Islamabad from 1990 until 2005 in response to its testing nuclear weapons.
The air force's current fleet includes Lockheed Martin F-16s, Dassault Mirage III/5s and Chengdu F-7s and JF-17s.

In terms of military transports, Pakistan flies Lockheed C-130s, but also operates Ilyushin Il-76/78 tankers.

 

[PAFAce]

Just slight correction, P&W Canada is a subsidiary company of P&W USA, thus technically, the engine manufacturer is US, though it has the some manufacturing base/plant in the Canada.

Pratt & Whitney Canada is an autonomous organization within the United Technologies umbrella and has its own R&D, engineering and manufacturing sites completely separated from PW USA. PWC has dealth only with engines in the 5,000 to 10,000 pounds of thrust class with very little technological common-ground with Pratt & Whitney USA. There is a new engine in the works, PW800, with up to 15,000 points of proposed thrust, but that is only in the drawing stages. Also, PWC focuses primarily on engines for personal and business jets like Cessnas, Bombardier C and Q Series, Embraer, Learjet etc. The only military uses of their engines are turboshaft for utility helis and turboprop trainers. So think of PWC as a completely separate and completely Canadian company that has little or nothing to do with any defence applications.

I highly doubt that the ZDK-03 will be fitted with a PWC engine. Pratt & Whitney USA focuses on engines above 20,000 pounds of thrust class, and deals with all defence matters, so my guess would be that the engine of choice is from PW USA.

 

[fatman17]

so my guess would be that the engine of choice is from PW USA.

US has 'sanctions' on China

 

[SQ8]

Which would be what??
P&W USA doesnt make any turboprops anymore..
P&W canada makes the PW-100 series which fits the bill well..
I am surprised they dont just put in Allison T-56's.. like the C-130's..
save on logistics and maintainability.

 

[DANGER-ZONE]

Rare photo of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Dassault Falcon 20F (serial# J-469) taken at Paris - Le Bourget (LBG / LFPB), France, on June 18, 1998.

 

[Manticore]

sir xman also flew one to paris, if im correct

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

great find....any background info on these aircrafts? When were they inducted, how many were in fleet?

 

[SQ8]

great find....any background info on these aircrafts? When were they inducted, how many were in fleet?

The falcon 20's?
Been with us since the 80's I think..
two of em.. called Iqbal and Bala after the EB-57 that was shot down by our own troops.
Fitted with ELINT and ECM equipment..recently upgraded as well..
Thats all I know though.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

dera mera baani Dr. Santro!

 

[S.U.R.B.]

sir xman also flew one to paris, if im correct

Yeah! here is the pic of Lodhi.Pic was uploaded by x_man.

And the photo detail says:

One of the two EW Falcon 20 F of PAF ( 24 EW Sqn) at Athens while on its way to Paris for maintenance inspection. Note ' Lodhi' at nose. Other one is called 'Iqbal'.

 

[Windjammer]

Guys, it's worth noting that the ZDK-03 AWACS, which was recently rolled out for the PAF, is actually a joint development between Pakistan and China Electronics Technology Corporation (CETC).
The project known as "Karakorum Eagle", is geared to produce four such aircraft for the PAF.

 

[humza_313]

The falcon 20's?
Been with us since the 80's I think..
two of em.. called Iqbal and Bala after the EB-57 that was shot down by our own troops.
Fitted with ELINT and ECM equipment..recently upgraded as well..
Thats all I know though.

by the 80s the paf had inducted 2 falcon da-20s but for VIP services ..!
later it acquired 2 more da-20s ELINT FOR RECON purposes.!

one of the most successful recon mission was led by w/c masood akhter in 1989 (not sure) by escorting 2 mirage IIIs and 2 f-16s over karakoram range..!