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Shaanxi KJ-500

2010 MODERN AIRCRAFT

History of Shaanxi KJ-500

The KJ-500 is an improved version of the Y-9 four-engine turboprop transport aircraft (detailed elsewhere on this website) developed by China Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation for Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C). Serving as the short- and medium-range "eye in the sky" for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), the aircraft is an evolution of earlier iterations of this type of aircraft, designed to fill the same battlefield roles - albeit with enhanced search, track and processing capabilities.

PLAAF currently has around 17 platforms available (2018). The guy made his first public appearance in September 2015.

The Y-9 was used as the frame for the aircraft. The design itself is relatively new to the Chinese aviation industry, originating from the earlier Y-8X. This type of development began in 2001 with production of medium-sized tugboats for military use and evolved into a proprietary design as the 25-ton capacity Y-9 with four Zhuzhou Wojiang 6C (FWJ-6C) turboprop engines, 5,100 hp each (two per wing) drives an advanced six-blade propeller unit.

Carrying a crew of up to four, the aircraft is capable of carrying up to 106 passengers, 132 airborne troops or nine full cargo pallets at an altitude of 34,000 feet and a range of 4,200 nautical miles at nearly 400 miles per hour. These qualities lend themselves well to the patrolling role of AEW&C, and the overall design represents a major success in China's internal military hardware self-sufficiency.

The KJ-500 airframe has been modified with various additional features, including a dedicated crew command console, antenna array, radar and - most notably - located above the aircraft's spine (aft midship) Circular "plate" components. The panel is a radome that sits and holds in place on a double strut support structure, providing 360-degree coverage of the aircraft's airspace.

Also noticed other bumps and protrusions, no doubt housing sensors etc. The main-wing aircraft retains the shoulder mounts, which provide excellent ground clearance as well as low-speed control and strong STOL (short take-off and landing) capabilities. The flight deck is located above the short, downwardly sloping nose cone, with excellent visibility in the forward quadrant of the aircraft.

The tail was raised (due to its shipping roots) and supported ventral struts and a single vertical tail, with smaller external vertical tails added at each end of the horizontal plane. Fully retractable multi-wheel tricycle landing gear for ground travel.

Combined with the other current capabilities of the Chinese Air Force, the KJ-500 series platform undoubtedly adds a much-needed modern high-performance positioning solution to the service. The airborne systems are fully networked with China's Battle Management System (BMS) and reportedly provide good identification, versatility and response quality.