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* The latest news suggested that at least one A-50 AEWCS has been evaluated by PLAAF at CFTE since summer 2002. This could be either an A-50E/U acquired from Russia or an A-50I delivered from Israel without the Phalcan phased array radar system (for flight crew training).
 Y-8X Cub
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Y-8X (Xun, Surveillance)
is PLAN's first long-range maritime patrol aircraft (range 5,600km). It is essentially a
Y-8/An-12 transport aircraft equipped with a Litton AN/APS-504(V)3 surface search radar in an
enlarged undernose radome plus western navigational systems for long range patrols over the sea.
The aircraft also carries optical and IR cameras and sonobuoys. Around 8 Y-8Xs are believed in service with PLA Naval Aviation
(serial number 92x1). One of the drawbacks is the aircraft is unarmed, but the it does have the
potential to carry a heavy load of weapons.
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Y-8J Cub
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This new airborne early
warning (AEW) variant of Y-8 (Project 515?
"High-New" 1?) was first spotted near Shanghai. According to Flight International, it
features a Searchwater/Skymaster surveillance radar housed in a enlarged, slightly dropped
nose radome, a configuration similar to the smaller Britten Norman Defender twinturboprop for
ground and maritime patrol and AEW roles. Six to eight sets of this radar system were
purchased by China in 1996 from UK's Racal for $66m. The Searchwater radar has been used
onboard RAF Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft and RN Sea King AEW helicopters, with a quoted
range of 210km. So far at least two Y-8 transport aircraft have been converted to the
AEW platform by Shannxi Aircraft Industry Corporation (SAC) and both are in service with
PLAN. It was speculated that the Y-8J could be used to provide targetting information
for long-range anti-ship missiles, but this has not been confirmed. This AEW variant is
believed to be far less capable than A-50E ordered by PLAAF but can be regarded as
a stop-gap measure for PLAN until a true AEWCS enters the service.On the other hand, a totally different story was told by Jane's: the aircraft was actually fitted with a GEC-Marconi Argus 2000 AEW radar, originally planned to be installed on an Il-76 airframe which Russia refused to provide. As a compromise, the Y-8 airframe was selected for the system. It was reported that one set of the Argus 2000 system was sold to China after the Israeli Phalcon AEW system was selected by PLAAF. The Searchwater radar sets purchased from Racal was actually destined for the SH-5 ASW flyboat upgrade program. |
Y-8 AEWCS 
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An unconfirmed news suggested that
an AEWCS prototype based upon Y-8/An-12 transport aircraft first flew in November 2001 at SAC.
This prototype ("High-New" 2?) is thought to bear some resemblance to the Swedish Saab 340 AEW&C
aircraft carrying an electronically scanned phased array radar in a rectangular fairing above
the fuselage. A separate phased array radar may be housed inside the canoe fairing underneath
the fuselage for air-to-surface search or lower hemisphere coverage. The radar is believed to
be the product of Nanjing Electronic Technology Research Institute, as the aircraft was
spotted hovering above the city of Nanjing. Currently SAC is thought to be working on at least
two other advanced AEWCS projects dubbed "High-New" 3 and "High-New" 4 for PLAAF and PLAN,
reflecting China's determination to acquire an indigenous AEWCS system after the earlier A-50I
setback. Both variants may be based on the same Y-8 airframe.
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SH-5
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SH-5 is a large amphibian
aircraft designed for longe-range ASW missions (max TO weight 45,000kg, max load 10,000kg,
max speed 556km/h, range 4,906km) which are coordiated with Y-8X. Only 6 were delivered
to PLAN in the mid-80s (serial number 91x3) before the production was stopped. These SH-5s are equipped with ASW
sensors including search radar and MAD. They can also carry weapons including 4 guided torpedos
or 12 depth charges. A remotely controlled twin 23mm gun housed in a dorsal turret provides the
self-defense. Ironically, it was reported that C-101 supersonic anti-ship missile was
initially developed in association with the SH-5
project in the 70s but the missile never reached the production stage due to the large size and
short range of the missile.
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HD-5 Beagle
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A rare view of HD-5 (or HG-5, serial # 30x1x) electronic warfare (EW)
aircraft is shown here. As the first generation of dedicated EW aircraft (another one is the Tu-4 EW
variant), it has provided much needed EW support to PLAAF since early 80s. Based on H-5/Il-28 light
bomber, HD-5 has its bombing equipment removed in order to make space for ECM/ECCM equipment,
as indicated by the blue painted antennas and fairings along the lower portion of the fuselage.
The twin 23mm cannons on the tail were also removed and the gun turret is now replaced by a
dielectric fairing which houses a large, all aspect RWR antenna
(Type 80E?). In addition a large ECM jammer is believed to be installed in the forward fuselage.
Among its 3-men flight crew, the navigator and the gunner may have become the EW equipment operators.
Although HD-5 was a suitable platform for some "low intensity" EW missions with its less
advanced EW equipment (mainly analog), it is expected to be replaced by the bigger and more
sophisticated HD-6 and Tu-154M/D EW/ELINT aircraft
(may include HD-7 in the future).
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Tu-154M/D Careless
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Several Tu-154M/Ds (Type II?) have been converted into ELINT aircraft by PLAAF,
even through they are disguised under the cover of a civilian China United Airline registration
(shown here is B-4138). Developed from Type I EW aircraft, Type II features a canoe shaped fairing under
the fuselage which has been speculated to house an experimental synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to provide
high-resolution ground mapping images, a capability similar to American E-8 J-STARS which also serves as
an airborne C3I center. Besides the SAR radar, the aircraft still retains some original ECM and
ELINT equipment, as indicated by the semi-spherical fairings and other small antennas under the rear
fuselage. It was reported that China is expanding her Tu-154M/D reconnaissance/ELINT aircraft
fleet with Russian assistance. So far there are only 4 of these modified Tu-154M/Ds which
entered the service with PLAAF in the early 90s.
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