Countries Launch AWACS to Detect Stealthy Targets and Enhance Multi-Role Operations

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Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft play a crucial role in modern warfare by providing early warning, battlefield management, and surveillance capabilities. These advanced airborne platforms act as flying command centers, detecting stealthy targets, coordinating military operations, and supporting missions such as search and rescue, border surveillance, and airspace control. As adversaries develop more advanced stealth technologies, hypersonic missiles, and electronic warfare capabilities, leading military powers are modernizing their AWACS fleets with cutting-edge Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars and next-generation command and control systems.

This article explores the significance of AWACS modernization, major international AWACS platforms, emerging threats to AWACS, and how these airborne assets have played a role in recent conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Role of AWACS in Modern Warfare

Situational awareness of potential hostile targets and of friendly forces is considered to be a key component in obtaining and sustaining military superiority over adversaries. Airborne Early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft provides a real-time picture of friendly, neutral, and hostile air and maritime activity under all kinds of weather and above all kinds of terrain. Information collected by AWACS can be transmitted directly from the aircraft to other users on land, at sea or in the air. In air-to-air combat, AWACS systems can communicate with friendly aircraft, extend their sensor range and give them added stealth, since they no longer need their own active radar to detect threats.

AWACS aircraft serve as force multipliers in air and ground operations by extending the situational awareness of military forces beyond the range of ground-based radar systems. These aircraft provide early warning by detecting enemy aircraft, missiles, and drones at long distances, giving friendly forces time to prepare and respond. AWACS play a key role in battlefield management by coordinating fighter jets, air defense systems, and ground forces through real-time tactical data sharing. In search and rescue operations, AWACS aircraft help locate downed pilots or lost assets by scanning large areas with precision. Additionally, these platforms contribute to border surveillance by monitoring unauthorized airspace intrusions and tracking illegal activities such as smuggling or espionage.

The US E3 AWACS has proved to be a key to victory for the United States in the 1991, 2001, and 2003 campaigns. As warfare evolves, the importance of AWACS continues to grow. However, with the emergence of stealth aircraft, advanced electronic warfare, and hypersonic missiles, countries are investing in modernizing these platforms to maintain their strategic advantage. As global threats evolve, nations are actively modernizing their AWACS fleets to detect stealthy targets and perform diverse missions, including search and rescue, border surveillance, and battle management

International AWACS Systems and Their Capabilities

E-3 Sentry AWACS (United States & NATO)

The Boeing E-3 Sentry has been a cornerstone of U.S. and NATO air defense since the 1970s. Equipped with an AN/APY-2 radar, this aircraft provides wide-area surveillance, airborne battle management, and early warning capabilities. While still operational, the E-3 is aging, and the U.S. and UK are actively working to replace it with more modern platforms such as the E-7 Wedgetail.

The E-3 Sentry AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) is a highly capable surveillance and battle management aircraft developed from the Boeing 707/320 commercial airframe. Its 30-foot (9.1-meter) rotating radar dome enables it to continuously scan a vast volume of airspace, providing 360-degree coverage with a range exceeding 400 kilometers (250 miles). The aircraft typically operates at an altitude of 30,000 feet (9,150 meters) for up to eight hours, covering a surveillance area of more than 120,000 square miles (310,798 square kilometers). Its radar, which can detect both aerial and maritime threats, is crucial for early warning, airspace management, and real-time battle coordination. The E-3 AWACS can track airborne threats at distances up to 600 kilometers for large aircraft and 200 kilometers for smaller, low-flying threats such as cruise missiles. This allows it to function as a high-altitude command and control center, directing friendly forces while monitoring adversaries.

Command and Control Capabilities

Inside the AWACS operations cabin, a sophisticated array of communications, data processing, and radar control systems allows operators to detect, track, and classify airborne and naval threats in real-time. The AN/APY-1 and AN/APY-2 radars utilize high-power pulse Doppler waveforms to filter out ground clutter, making it effective over complex terrains, including urban and mountainous regions. The aircraft’s Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) subsystem distinguishes friendly forces from adversaries, reducing the risk of fratricide. Additionally, its real-time data sharing capability enables commanders to receive up-to-the-minute intelligence, ensuring rapid decision-making in high-pressure scenarios.

Key Missions and Global Deployments

Since its introduction, the E-3 Sentry has played a critical role in numerous NATO and U.S. military operations. It provided real-time situational awareness during Desert Storm, logging over 5,000 hours of surveillance and supporting 120,000 coalition sorties. During the Operation Unified Protector in Libya, AWACS aircraft were responsible for directing NATO fighter jets, reconnaissance planes, and UAVs while enforcing a maritime arms embargo. The system also played a crucial role in the post-9/11 air defense efforts in the United States and continues to support NATO’s reassurance measures in Eastern Europe in response to geopolitical tensions. With its ability to conduct airspace management, counter-terrorism, maritime surveillance, close air support (CAS), combat search and rescue (CSAR), and disaster relief operations, the E-3 remains indispensable in modern warfare and humanitarian missions.

The Boeing E-3 Sentry, commonly known as AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System), remains a critical asset in global air defense, providing comprehensive surveillance, command, and control capabilities. The United States Air Force (USAF) operates 31 E-3s, with 27 stationed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, and four assigned to Pacific Air Forces at Kadena Air Base, Japan, and Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.

However, as of September 2023, the USAF has reduced its E-3 fleet to 18 aircraft following the retirement of 13 units. NATO maintains a fleet of 14 E-3As based at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen in Germany. The United Kingdom operates its own fleet of E-3Ds, while France and Saudi Arabia each maintain their respective E-3 variants. Japan employs four Boeing 767-based AWACS aircraft tailored to its specific requirements. NATO maintains a fleet of 14 E-3As, based at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen in Germany, with the first delivered in January 1982. The United Kingdom has seven E-3Ds, France operates four E-3Fs, and Saudi Arabia possesses five E-3As. Additionally, Japan employs four Boeing 767-based AWACS aircraft, tailored to its specific requirements.

NATO’s E-3A AWACS have played a pivotal role in counter-terrorism operations, particularly in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Since October 2016, these aircraft have flown over 1,000 mission hours, providing essential air surveillance and situational awareness to the Global Coalition. Operating primarily from Konya, Turkey, NATO AWACS have supported missions by managing complex airspace and ensuring the safety of coalition aircraft. These operations are conducted over allied territory and international waters, with the aircraft’s powerful radar systems offering a comprehensive air picture without entering conflict zones.

Boeing E-7 AEW&C (US, UK, Australia, Turkey, South Korea)

The E-7 Wedgetail, based on the Boeing 737, represents the next generation of AWACS aircraft. It is equipped with the Northrop Grumman Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar, which provides superior stealth detection and tracking capabilities. The U.S. Air Force and the UK Royal Air Force are in the process of acquiring the E-7 to replace their aging E-3 fleets.

The Boeing E-7 AEW&C, known as the ‘Wedgetail’ in Australia, is a highly advanced airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft designed to provide extended battlespace management and situational awareness. It is based on the Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) airframe, integrating the Northrop Grumman Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar, which allows for simultaneous tracking of multiple airborne and maritime targets. The aircraft is capable of directing fighter jets, warships, and other assets, significantly enhancing coordination in complex operational environments. With a cruise speed of 530 mph and an operational endurance of up to ten hours, the E-7 can monitor a vast area of approximately four million square kilometers.

The E-7 is equipped with cutting-edge communication and defensive systems, including multiple high-frequency radios, modern electronic support measures (ESM), and electronic warfare self-protection (EWSP). The UK Ministry of Defence has emphasized that the E-7 will replace the aging E-3D Sentry fleet, forming a core component of the next-generation Royal Air Force (RAF) capabilities. The RAF is expected to integrate the E-7 into service in the mid-2020s, strengthening interoperability with key allies like Australia. UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson highlighted that this aircraft, alongside F-35 jets and Type-26 warships, enhances the UK’s ability to track and engage threats more effectively in an increasingly complex battlespace.

SAAB GlobalEye AEW&C (Sweden, UAE)

Sweden’s GlobalEye, based on the Bombardier Global 6000 jet, integrates an Erieye ER AESA radar, making it highly effective for multi-domain surveillance, including air, land, and maritime operations. This platform offers a cost-effective yet highly capable alternative to larger AWACS aircraft.

Saab’s Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) systems, notably the Erieye and its advanced iteration, the GlobalEye, represent significant advancements in multi-domain surveillance technology. The Erieye system, integrated into platforms like the Saab 2000, offers comprehensive air and sea surveillance capabilities. Its Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar enables rapid detection and tracking of various targets, including fighter aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and small sea vessels. The system’s effective surveillance area exceeds 500,000 square kilometers horizontally and 60,000 feet vertically, ensuring extensive coverage. Operational in countries such as Sweden, Greece, Brazil, Mexico, Pakistan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates, Erieye has established itself as a reliable asset for both military and civil applications.

Building upon the success of Erieye, Saab introduced the GlobalEye AEW&C system, which integrates the Erieye Extended Range (ER) radar with additional sensors aboard the Bombardier Global 6000/6500 aircraft. This configuration provides long-range detection and identification across air, sea, and land domains. The Erieye ER radar employs Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, enhancing its range and performance, particularly in detecting low-observable targets. GlobalEye’s multi-domain Command and Control (C2) system processes vast amounts of data in real-time, offering a comprehensive situational picture. With an operational endurance exceeding 11 hours and a detection range surpassing 650 kilometers, GlobalEye serves as a strategic national asset, capable of roles ranging from air policing to search and rescue operations.

Beriev A-50U (Russia)

Russia’s Beriev A-50U is an upgraded version of the Soviet-era A-50, featuring improved digital processing and enhanced detection capabilities. However, it still relies on a mechanically scanned radar, making it less effective against stealth aircraft compared to newer AWACS systems.

Russia’s Beriev A-50U represents a significant advancement in airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) capabilities, building upon the foundation of the original A-50 aircraft. Developed collaboratively by the Beriev Aircraft Company and the Vega Radio Engineering Corporation, the A-50U is designed to detect, track, and identify a variety of targets, including aerial threats such as fighter jets, bombers, ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as ground and surface targets like tank formations and naval vessels. This aircraft serves as a comprehensive airborne command post, providing real-time data to command centers and directing fighter and strike aviation units effectively.

The A-50U is equipped with the advanced Shmel II radio-technical complex, enabling it to track up to 300 targets simultaneously and guide interceptors toward 40 of them. The integration of modern electronics has reduced the aircraft’s overall weight, allowing for increased fuel capacity, which extends its operational range to approximately 9,000 kilometers and enhances its flight endurance to around 11 hours. Additional improvements include a new piloting and navigation system, larger high-resolution liquid crystal displays (LCDs) for enhanced radar data presentation, and improved ergonomics to reduce crew fatigue. The A-50U also features a self-defense system with active and passive electronic countermeasures and radar reflectors, ensuring protection against incoming threats.

KJ-500 & KJ-2000 AEW&C (China)

China has developed indigenous AWACS platforms, including the KJ-2000, based on the Il-76 airframe, and the smaller KJ-500, which provides network-centric capabilities for China’s growing air defense network. These aircraft are designed to support China’s air superiority ambitions in the Asia-Pacific region.

China has rapidly expanded its airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) capabilities, deploying over 20 advanced AWACS aircraft, including the KJ-500 and KJ-2000. The KJ-500, developed by the Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation, is based on the Y-9 four-engine turboprop and features an advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar housed in a round radome. It is capable of tracking over 60 aircraft simultaneously at ranges of up to 470 km. This system is gradually supplementing and replacing the older KJ-200, which utilized a Y-8 platform with a linear phased-array radar and had a range of about 300 km. The KJ-200, in turn, was the successor to the larger KJ-2000, which was based on the Russian Il-76 airframe but integrated with indigenous Chinese radar systems.

China’s AEW&C advancements also include the ZDK-03, an export version of the KJ-200 radar system, four of which have been acquired by Pakistan for $300 million each. These aircraft enhance Pakistan’s air defense network by providing real-time surveillance and battle management capabilities. Meanwhile, China continues to refine its airborne early warning platforms, with reports indicating potential future developments involving jet-powered AWACS aircraft for improved speed, endurance, and radar performance. These advancements underscore China’s strategic commitment to achieving airborne situational awareness on par with leading global powers.

AWACS in Recent Wars: The Russia-Ukraine Conflict

AWACS aircraft have played a crucial role in the Russia-Ukraine war, providing real-time intelligence and battlefield coordination. NATO AWACS platforms have been patrolling Eastern Europe, monitoring Russian air and missile activity, and providing early warning to Ukrainian forces. These aircraft have been instrumental in tracking Russian aircraft movements, missile launches, and drone strikes, allowing Ukraine and NATO to prepare countermeasures in advance.

Russia, on the other hand, has used its A-50U AWACS to support air operations, coordinate fighter jet deployments, and enhance situational awareness. However, Russian AWACS platforms have faced challenges due to Ukraine’s effective use of long-range air defense systems and electronic warfare tactics. Reports suggest that Ukrainian forces, using Western-supplied weapons, have attempted to target Russian A-50U aircraft operating near the conflict zone.

The war in Ukraine has highlighted both the strengths and vulnerabilities of AWACS platforms in modern warfare. While these aircraft provide critical intelligence and command capabilities, they are also highly valuable targets that adversaries seek to neutralize through kinetic strikes, electronic warfare, and cyberattacks.

Emerging Threats to AWACS

Despite their advanced capabilities, AWACS platforms face growing threats that could diminish their effectiveness in future conflicts. One of the biggest challenges is the proliferation of stealth aircraft and hypersonic weapons. Modern stealth fighters such as the F-35 and J-20 are designed to evade detection by traditional radars, making it difficult for AWACS to track them. Similarly, hypersonic missiles, which travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, can rapidly close the distance to their targets before AWACS or air defense systems have time to react.

Electronic warfare is another major threat to AWACS operations. Adversaries are developing advanced electronic attack systems capable of jamming AWACS radars and communication links. If an AWACS aircraft is unable to transmit or receive tactical data, it becomes significantly less effective in a combat scenario. Cyberattacks also pose a risk, as hacking into AWACS systems could compromise sensitive military data or disable operations entirely.

Another vulnerability is the increasing capability of long-range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and anti-AWACS weapons. Countries such as China and Russia have developed advanced air defense systems like the S-400 and S-500, which can target high-value assets such as AWACS aircraft from hundreds of kilometers away. This has led to a shift in strategy, where AWACS are now operating from greater distances or relying on escort aircraft for protection.

AWACS Modernization: AESA Radar & Advanced Command Systems

To counter emerging threats, modern AWACS aircraft are transitioning from traditional mechanically scanned radars to AESA radars. These advanced radars significantly enhance AWACS capabilities by improving stealth detection, allowing the aircraft to track low-observable aircraft and drones more effectively. AESA technology enables multi-target tracking, with the ability to simultaneously monitor hundreds of airborne and surface targets. Furthermore, these radars offer increased resistance to electronic jamming and cyber warfare, ensuring reliable operations even in contested environments.

To enhance its capabilities, modern E-3 variants are being upgraded with Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars, replacing the traditional rotating dome with an electronically steered beam for faster target acquisition, greater range, and improved resistance to electronic jamming. AESA technology also enables multi-target tracking and increased resolution, crucial for countering stealth aircraft, hypersonic missiles, and electronic warfare threats. Additionally, efforts are underway to integrate modernized communications, artificial intelligence-assisted threat analysis, and enhanced cybersecurity measures to keep the E-3 relevant in evolving battlespaces. While the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail is expected to gradually replace the E-3 in the future, ongoing upgrades ensure that the AWACS fleet remains a critical asset for U.S. and NATO forces well into the 2030s.

AWACS Bistatic UAV: Expanding Airborne Surveillance with Unmanned Systems

The AWACS Bistatic UAV Adjunct program, valued at over $850 million, was designed to enhance the surveillance capabilities of the E-3 Sentry by integrating high-altitude endurance UAVs like the Dark Star and Global Hawk. These UAVs, equipped with bistatic receivers, significantly extend the coverage of a single E-3 orbit and improve the detection of low radar cross-section (RCS) targets in contested airspace. By improving signal-to-interference ratios, these UAVs provide superior tracking capabilities, even in electronic warfare-heavy environments, making them critical in modern warfare scenarios.

By leveraging bistatic UAVs, the U.S. Air Force can reduce its reliance on crewed E-3 aircraft, lowering operational costs while maintaining wide-area surveillance. These UAVs are lightweight, carrying only bistatic receivers, IFF interrogators, and JTIDS/JCTN transmitters, with potential for additional combat identification systems if weight allows. Their flexibility allows them to support other early warning systems, including the E-2 Hawkeye and TPS-75 ground radars, reinforcing a networked and multi-domain approach to airborne surveillance. This force-multiplying capability enables coverage of multiple conflict zones with fewer AWACS assets, making U.S. air surveillance more efficient and resilient.

Beyond augmenting existing AWACS operations, the Bistatic UAV is a critical step in transitioning toward a space-based AWACS architecture. By acting as receivers, these UAVs could eventually eliminate the need for airborne radar transmitters, relying instead on space-based radar for signal emission. This shift would provide persistent, near-global surveillance, enhancing U.S. capabilities to track stealth aircraft, hypersonic missiles, and other low-observable threats. As the USAF moves toward next-generation battle management systems, integrating UAVs and satellites into AWACS operations will ensure continuous, real-time intelligence in increasingly complex and contested environments

Beyond radar advancements, modern AWACS platforms are integrating next-generation command and control (C2) systems. These systems enhance real-time data sharing between air, land, and naval forces, enabling seamless coordination across multiple military domains. Future developments are expected to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) for faster threat assessment and decision-making, further increasing the efficiency of these airborne command centers.

US Air Force Launches Major AWACS Fleet Upgrade Program

In 2015, the U.S. Air Force allocated $60 million to upgrade its E-3 Sentry fleet of 32 aircraft, marking a major milestone in modernizing Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) operations. A key component of this upgrade was the installation of the AN/UPX-40 system as part of the Next Generation Identification Friend or Foe (NGIFF) program, significantly improving the detection of weak signals and maneuvering targets across all operational ranges. According to Nick Grudziecki, deputy program manager, this installation was just the first step in a broader AWACS modernization effort. The NGIFF upgrade provides a more secure Mode 5 capability, replacing the obsolete Mode 4, and enhances AWACS’ ability to identify and track cooperative targets in contested airspace. Additionally, the system integrates Mode S, a civilian air traffic control function, reinforcing AWACS’ dual-use role in both military and civilian aviation.

AWACS Modernization: Block 40/45 Upgrade

The Block 40/45 upgrade represents the most extensive modernization of the E-3 Sentry fleet, with a $2.7 billion investment aimed at replacing outdated mission computing and communication systems. The upgrade improves data integration, combat identification (CID), and real-time targeting capabilities via an Ethernet-based, open-system architecture. This transformation enables the AWACS to process sensor data at a much higher capacity and speed, significantly improving situational awareness and response times for air battle managers. Officials compare this upgrade to transitioning from “an Atari to an Xbox,” as it modernizes how AWACS operators process, interpret, and disseminate battlefield intelligence. The improved system allows crews to coordinate missions more efficiently, while upgraded Link 16 radios and electronic support measures ensure interoperability with modern fifth-generation fighters. These enhancements not only make AWACS more capable in high-threat environments but also improve training efficiency and operational effectiveness.

Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP): Advancing AWACS Capabilities

To counter the growing sophistication of modern threats, the AWACS radar has undergone significant upgrades through the Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP). These enhancements provide greater radar sensitivity, improved electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM), and advanced radar performance monitoring. RSIP not only extends the operational range and accuracy of the AWACS radar but also enhances reliability and maintainability, reducing overall life-cycle costs. The improvements directly bolster air defense and command and control capabilities, ensuring AWACS remains a dominant force in aerial surveillance.

Enhanced Detection and Tracking Performance

RSIP dramatically improves range and angular resolution, with range resolution increasing by up to sixfold, while azimuth and elevation accuracy doubles compared to the original AWACS system. These enhancements are made possible by advanced pulse Doppler waveforms, pulse compression techniques, and upgraded processing algorithms. These technological advancements allow AWACS to detect and track targets at nearly twice the range of its predecessor, offering a crucial advantage in modern airborne threat detection and engagement.

Resilience Against Electronic Attacks & Multi-Mode Radar Capabilities

AWACS radar resilience against electronic warfare (EW) threats has been significantly reinforced through improved clutter rejection, digital signal processing, and an upgraded human-machine interface (HMI). RSIP introduces multiple radar modes to enhance operational flexibility across various mission profiles:

Multi-Mode Radar: Provides adaptable surveillance across different scenarios.
Pulse Doppler Non-Elevation Scan (PDNES): Enables aircraft detection down to the surface using Doppler radar filters and a precise antenna beam.
Pulse Doppler Elevation Scan (PDES): Similar to PDNES but incorporates electronic vertical scanning for target elevation determination.
Beyond-the-Horizon (BTH): Uses pulse radar for long-range surveillance, even when ground clutter obstructs the horizon.
Maritime Mode: Employs short pulses to filter out sea clutter, improving detection of large and small ships across various sea conditions.
Interleaved Mode: Allows simultaneous operation of PDES and BTH or PDNES and Maritime Mode for broader surveillance capabilities.
Passive Mode: Enables radar operation in silent mode by shutting down the transmitter in selected areas while continuing to receive and process enemy signals, a vital capability in jammed or ECM-heavy environments.

With these upgrades, RSIP significantly enhances AWACS’ ability to operate in diverse mission environments, ensuring superiority in airborne early warning, battle management, and electronic warfare scenarios.

DRAGON Avionics Upgrade & Future Enhancements

The NATO E-3 fleet is undergoing a separate $1.4 billion modernization under the DRAGON (Diminishing Manufacturing Sources Replacement of Avionics for Global Operations and Navigation) program, which replaces 40-year-old analog avionics with digital glass cockpit systems. This upgrade ensures compliance with FAA and ICAO regulations, keeping the aircraft viable in global airspaces. Key enhancements include an advanced flight management system (FMS), predictive weather radar, improved engine and flight warnings, and a reduced crew requirement (eliminating the navigator position). Boeing has successfully tested a NATO E-3A Sentry with these new avionics, validating its capability to support modern operations. Looking forward, AWACS will continue evolving with enhanced radar tracking, electronic warfare resistance, and improved target detection algorithms to address next-generation threats, including stealth aircraft, hypersonic missiles, and unmanned systems. These upgrades solidify AWACS’ role in multi-domain operations, ensuring its relevance in both combat and peacekeeping missions worldwidee.

China’s AWACS Advancements: A Strategic Leap in Aerial Warfare

As global military tensions rise, China is rapidly modernizing its Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, positioning itself as a dominant force in aerial surveillance. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has highlighted the critical role of AWACS in modern warfare, where airborne platforms serve as flying command centers, guiding combat aircraft, monitoring airspace, and deploying electronic countermeasures. Learning from these global conflicts, China is investing heavily in next-generation airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) technologies, with recent sightings of the Kunjing-700, a potential game-changer in China’s air surveillance capabilities.

Recent images on Chinese social media platform Weibo suggest the emergence of a new Kongjing-500N variant, featuring an advanced radar system and design modifications, fueling speculation about the Kunjing-700’s existence. This aligns with earlier reports indicating that China has been developing strategic airborne early warning systems to counter threats from Taiwan, the United States, and regional U.S. allies. Despite skepticism, China’s advancements in AWACS are becoming increasingly plausible, especially given U.S. restrictions on foreign radar and AWACS technology acquisitions. The Kunjing-700, if operational, would serve as a multi-role asset, integrating aerial reconnaissance, electronic warfare, maritime surveillance, and combat guidance—a significant leap in China’s defense capabilities.

The Russia-Ukraine war has provided valuable lessons in the vulnerabilities of AEW&C aircraft. Ukraine’s successful downing of two Russian A-50 AWACS aircraft in early 2024 exposed the susceptibility of these high-value assets, prompting military powers worldwide, including China, to focus on making their AWACS fleets more resilient and defensible. Recognizing their strategic importance, China has long been developing indigenous AWACS platforms, starting with the KJ-2000 and KJ-200 in the early 2000s. Now, newer variants such as the KJ-3000, KJ-500, and carrier-based KJ-600 are bolstering China’s air and naval surveillance capabilities.

China’s AWACS advancements extend beyond land-based operations. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is incorporating advanced AEW&C capabilities into its expanding fleet of aircraft carriers. The introduction of the KJ-600, equipped with an Electromagnetic Launch System (EMALS) for carrier operations, underscores China’s shift towards blue-water naval dominance. As China builds its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, it is poised to deploy fixed-wing AWACS platforms, marking a significant departure from traditional helicopter-based systems. This move further solidifies China’s strategic evolution toward intelligentized warfare, where data-driven command and control systems play a decisive role in military engagements.

At the forefront of these developments is the KJ-500, China’s most advanced AEW&C aircraft to date. Introduced in 2015, it features Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar technology and can track up to 100 targets simultaneously. Its fixed dorsal rotodome provides 360-degree coverage, a significant improvement over earlier platforms like the KJ-200. With an estimated 28 units in operation by 2022, the KJ-500 has become a critical component of China’s air and naval operations, particularly in supporting its fifth-generation fighter, the Chengdu J-20.

As tensions continue to simmer in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, China’s accelerated AWACS modernization could redefine regional power dynamics. With its latest advancements in aerial surveillance, electronic warfare, and networked battlefield awareness, China is positioning itself as the most formidable U.S. adversary in airborne early warning technologies, surpassing even Russia’s aging AWACS fleet. The Kunjing-700 and other next-generation platforms represent not just a technological breakthrough but a strategic shift, signaling China’s intent to challenge U.S. air superiority in the Pacific and beyond

The Future of AWACS

As air threats continue to evolve, the future of AWACS will likely include AI-powered decision-making for faster threat assessment, stealthy AWACS designs to reduce radar cross-section, and integration with space-based surveillance assets. Some nations are exploring the possibility of drone-based AWACS, which could provide persistent surveillance without the risks associated with manned aircraft.

The development of next-generation AWACS will determine which countries maintain air superiority in the coming decades. As seen in the Russia-Ukraine war, these aircraft remain indispensable, but their survivability and effectiveness will depend on how well they adapt to the challenges of modern warfare.

Conclusion

AWACS aircraft are vital assets for modern air forces, enabling them to detect and track stealth aircraft, manage complex battlefield operations, and secure their airspace. Countries worldwide are investing in AWACS modernization to counter emerging threats, integrating AESA radars and advanced command systems. With platforms like the E-7 Wedgetail, KJ-500, and GlobalEye leading the charge, the future of AWACS is set to be more powerful, efficient, and networked than ever before.

References and Resources also include:

https://www.eurasiantimes.com/header-china-modernizing-its-flying-rada/

Project Eagle

In 2005, a major upgrade of the UK Royal Air Force’s Boeing E-3D Sentry fleet, dubbed Project Eagle was launched. Its aim was to transform the airborne radar aircraft into the hub of the UK’s network-centric warfare capability. At the heart of the upgrade, potentially costing $500 million, is the incorporation of the US Network-Centric Collaborative Targeting (NCCT) technology, which compresses the sensor-to-shooter loop by allowing a much wider range of information on ground targets to be inserted into the displays currently used by E-3D crew members to monitor air activity.