Chinese AEW ISR and Special Mission Aircraft

[niubi]

China operates 17-20x more AWACS than India.

Back in like 2022-2023, yeah.

China currently operates approximately:

5 units of KJ-2000

10 units of KJ-200

>80-90 units of KJ-500 (in mass production)

~10 units of KJ-600 (hitting mass production)

Introducing KJ-3000 into service as we speak and will be mass produced like Y-20.

KJ-3000 let's just say is the GaN on SiC level of radar technology for AWACS/AEW&C, if not further since GaN on SiC has been used by China on J-20 for over 3 years already.

GaA -> GaN -> GaN on SiC -> graphene and other materials doped or base which Chinese state media has hinted is the current generation being tested. This lines up since China has been using GaN for warships, J-16, J-20 and J-10C for close to 10 years now and even GaN on missile seekers. GaN on SiC is the one on the latest block J-20A, J-20S and J-16.

We are not even counting HALE unmanned AWACS/AEW&C like WZ-9 and Y-9 based electronic warfare aircraft or signal intelligence aircraft.

This is a current (which is old estimates from 2022 era, except of course for KJ-600 and KJ-3000 which are newer AWACS) total of a minimum of 100-120 AWACS/AEWC.

China builds these at a rate that is incomparable to India since India doesn't produce their own. India currently operates a total of 6 AWACS/AEW&C. All of them in the KJ-200 class and approximately equal to the KJ-200 and KJ-500 level of modernity and output (I'm honestly being conservative and generous putting the Phalcon and Netra in KJ-500 class of tech, modernity and power output).

Even only comparing numbers and ignoring output, modernity and baseline tech, this is already more than 20x India's and PLAAF and PLANAF receive dozens of new AWACS/AEW&C every year with the introduction of KJ-600 and KJ-3000. We ain't even counting AWACS/AEW&C role given to UAVs and special missile aircraft (EW, SIGINT, ASW which all have overlapping capabilities to AWACS/AEW&C).

Y-20 has expanded production facilities for KJ-3000.

If people think China made a lot very quickly, lol they ain't seen shit yet.

China's production and supply chain investment fruits haven't even hit in full at all. This is all operating with western based reporting of roughly 3% GDP spending. China itself claims low 2%s and west scales it up for dramatic effect. This is all before basically doubling all production facilities and upgrading automation and improving the entire supply chain daily.

In reality, China has in recent years upped defence spending by a little and the new production lines are all yet to go full throttle. Military production outputs are going to make Chinese EV industry look like a joke in comparison whether it is modernity, tech level, iteration speed, improvement speed and production. Military is the field that is the focus (without saying it is).

 

[niubi]

I don't want to shit on China's past dynasties and governments too much but this is literally the first time in Chinese history where the nation is being led by a semi-competent government. The irony is this government is attacked ruthlessly and ceaselessly (only occasionally for the right reasons and real reasons) by basically everyone.

India could transform into a beast too but at the moment, aint a chance in hell it's able to stumble randomly into effective governance. It took China around 4000 years to find a government that doesn't only exploit the people and nation. The CPC ain't perfect by no means and China ain't without problems to solve but this is the only time in its history considering all the complexities the government need to navigate and solve, where China has enabled its own beast mode.

Meanwhile the west is stumbling into irresolvable end stage capitalism which is the real reason for its decline. Not migration (which is a bandaid solution it's implementing), not political division. It's purely the economic structure. India is battling the same complexities it has always been since independence, forming its own little corner in the way humanity is evolving its separate civilisation paths.

To imagine India will match China is... just I don't even know how to describe someone who genuinely believes and thinks this.

Like bro. This just ain't at all how all the curves are going and how all the obvious on the ground elements have been set up and playing out.

People tend to either go fully woke and red pilled about all this or they cope incredibly hard and look for every diminishing thread of evidence giving them confirmation bias relief. Yes there are shreds of that online. In the past they were real time and now they've gone to finding basically age old Chinese videos when this never happened in the past they had actual stuff to use to disparage China with and much more. No one even tried create that level of propaganda against the West and India except travelers and youtubers who red pilled themselves on India.

 

[Deino]

KJ-3000 or more likely KJ-20 again

 

[ChillVein]

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[Beijingwalker]

China’s upgraded Y-9 submarine hunter enters military drills with new radar systems

New PLA images reveal an enhanced Y-9 patrol aircraft equipped with advanced radar and submarine detection systems during realistic naval drills.

Jul 17, 2026 08:13 AM EST

A Y-9 transport aircraft.Getty Images

China’s military has revealed an upgraded version of its Y-9 anti-submarine patrol aircraft during recent naval exercises. This marks the plane’s first official use in training since it was shown at the 2025 Victory Day parade. Photos from official PLA media this week show the aircraft is now being used in active service training.

Military analysts believe the new Y-9 variant has reached early combat capability, based on recent images. The upgraded plane seems to have better sensors for finding submarines and is built to survive missions more effectively.

New sensors improve submarine detection​

The updated Y-9 looks different from the version shown at the September 3, 2025 parade. According to Chinese military expert Zhang Junshe, the aircraft now carries a new active phased-array radar under its nose.

This radar should cover a wider area, detect targets from farther away, and scan more broadly than the older model.

Zhang also pointed to a redesigned magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) mounted at the tail. This design helps cut down on interference from the plane, makes maintenance easier, and improves the ability to find submarines under the sea.

The aircraft carries many sonobuoys along both sides of its fuselage. According to Zhang, it can drop up to 100 sonobuoys in one mission, creating a network that covers dozens of kilometers to track submarines underwater.

Compared to the older Y-8, the Y-9 can fly farther, cover a bigger area, carry more weight, and stay in the air longer. These upgrades strengthen China’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Realistic exercises test operational readiness​

The PLA Southern Theater Command recently held search-and-attack training with several anti-submarine patrol planes over the South China Sea, according to the South Sea Fleet.

The drills did not follow preset scenarios or fixed tactics. They also included teamwork with other military units for maritime patrol and anti-submarine missions.

Training teams added surprises like electromagnetic interference and equipment failures. Pilots had to make quick decisions and react in real time, just as they would in real combat.

According to the South Sea Fleet, repeated search-and-attack missions help crews get better at working together, staying aware of their surroundings, and handling anti-submarine tasks day and night. Military photos showed both Y-8 and Y-9 planes in the exercises.

Analysts see early combat capability​

Zhang said the appearance of the upgraded Y-9 in these exercises shows it has started operational training and reached its first level of combat ability, including basic submarine search and attack roles.

He explained that anti-submarine missions in the South China Sea are harder than in the East China Sea or Yellow Sea because the water is much deeper, often over 3,280 feet (1,000 meters), which makes submarines harder to find. The upgraded aircraft should be better at searching, attacking, and surviving in these tough conditions.

The Y-9 anti-submarine patrol aircraft was first shown to the public at China’s 2025 Victory Day parade, alongside the Y-9 electronic reconnaissance and radar-jamming aircraft. According to Xinhua News Agency, this homegrown aircraft has several search systems and plays a key role in monitoring the seas and supporting the navy.

China's Y-9 submarine hunter enters military drills with upgraded radar

China's upgraded Y-9 anti-submarine aircraft has entered operational training, signaling its initial combat readiness after its 2025 public debut.

interestingengineering.com