By Akhil Kadidal | 10 June 2025

作者：阿基尔·卡迪达尔|2025年6月10日

 

A KJ-3000 prototype, numbered 7821, has been conducting flight tests since late 2024. (Janes)

编号7821的KJ-3000原型机自2024年底以来一直在进行飞行测试。（简氏）

 

Imagery of China's new Xi'an KJ-3000 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform has revealed new details about a platform, which could replace China's ageing Xi'an KJ-2000 AEW aircraft.

中国新型西安KJ-3000机载预警和控制（AEW&C）平台的图像揭示了有关该平台的新细节，该平台可以取代中国老化的西安KJ-2000 AEW飞机。

 

Images of the KJ-3000 in flight first appeared in late 2024. However, a recent image of the aircraft parked on the ground has shown that it includes an improved radar configuration and greater operational capabilities. If the platform matures, it will replace the KJ-2000 and even some production units of the Shaanxi KJ-500 AEW&C aircraft that are in service with the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

KJ-3000的飞行画面首次曝光于2024年末。然而，最近一张停在地面上的照片显示，该机型配备了改进的雷达系统和更强的作战能力。如果这一平台能够成熟，它将取代KJ-2000，甚至可能取代正在服役的解放军（PLA）的部分陕西KJ-500预警机。

 

The KJ-3000 is based on the Xi'an Y-20B transport aircraft, which is powered by four domestically developed and new Shenyang WS-20 two-shaft high-bypass-ratio turbofan engines.

KJ-3000以西安Y-20B运输机为基础，采用四台国产新型沈阳WS-20双轴高涵道比涡扇发动机。

 

China has mentioned the development of the KJ-3000 for several years. In March 2019 the chief designer of the Y-20, Tang Changhong, first revealed that the Y-20 platform could be used as the basis for a new AEW&C variant.

中国几年来一直提到KJ-3000的发展。2019年3月，运-20的首席设计师唐长虹首次透露，运-20平台可以作为新型AEW&C改型的基础。

 

The new image of the KJ-3000, which appeared on Chinese social media in May 2025, shows the aircraft had the serial number 7821 and carried a green-yellow primer colour scheme that is standard for prototype aircraft.

KJ-3000的新图像于2025年5月出现在中国社交媒体上，显示该飞机的序列号为7821，并采用了原型飞机的标准绿黄色底漆配色方案。

 

Radar system

雷达系统

 

Photographed while parked at an undisclosed location, the aircraft was partially obscured by foliage. However, the aircraft's radome was visible, with markings on the feature indicating that it houses two back-to-back radar arrays of a potentially new radar system.

照片拍摄于一个未公开的地点，飞机部分被树叶遮挡。然而，飞机的雷达罩清晰可见，其上的标记表明它装有两个背靠背的雷达阵列，可能是新型雷达系统的一部分。

 

In contrast, the PLA's older KJ-2000 fleet is equipped with the three-sided K/LLQF01 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system. The K/LLQF01, which has 360° coverage, is a product of Chinese Electronics Technology Corporation (CETC) No 14 Research Institute.

相比之下，解放军的老式KJ-2000机队装备了三面K/LLQF01主动电子扫描阵列（AESA）雷达系统。K/LLQF01拥有360°覆盖范围，是中国电子科技集团（CETC）第十四研究所的产品。