ALERT: China Nears Operational Deployment of KJ-600 Carrier-Based Airborne Early Warning Aircraft to Rival U.S. E2D.

Recent high-resolution imagery shared on Chinese social media confirms that China is nearing the final phase of development for its new carrier-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, the Xi’an KJ-600. This twin-turboprop platform, which strongly mirrors the American E-2D Advanced Hawkeye in concept and design, has been observed conducting formation flights alongside J-15 carrier-based fighters. These test flights strongly indicate that the aircraft is close to achieving full operational capability with the People's Liberation Army Navy.
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The KJ-600 is a carrier-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft developed by China. It features a twin-engine turboprop configuration, a high-mounted wing, and a prominent rotodome radar, closely resembling the U.S. Navy’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye in design and intended role. (Picture source: Rupprecht_A X account)

The KJ-600 is intended to operate from the new-generation Type 003 aircraft carrier, Fujian, which is equipped with electromagnetic catapult launch systems. This technological advancement permits the operation of heavier fixed-wing aircraft like the KJ-600, greatly expanding the air wing's capabilities. The aircraft features a high-wing configuration with a large rotating radar dome mounted on top, housing a state-of-the-art active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar that enables 360-degree coverage. Its primary mission is to detect, track, and manage aerial and maritime threats over long distances, thereby extending the reach and lethality of China’s carrier strike groups.

The development process has involved extensive testing, including trials on land-based facilities designed to simulate aircraft carrier conditions. These preparations have enabled China to streamline deck operations and train carrier personnel ahead of the aircraft’s integration into service. With its sophisticated radar and command systems, the KJ-600 is expected to become a pivotal asset in enhancing China’s maritime domain awareness, targeting support, and fleet coordination during both peacetime patrols and potential combat operations.

The impending operational status of the KJ-600 represents a major milestone in China’s effort to rival U.S. naval aviation capabilities, particularly in contested zones such as the South China Sea and the Western Pacific. This aircraft’s deployment is set to reinforce the PLAN's ambition to establish a fully networked, power-projection navy on par with other global maritime powers.

For the Chinese Navy, the introduction of a high-performance AEW&C aircraft like the KJ-600 is essential to closing a critical capability gap. Until now, China has lacked a fixed-wing airborne early warning platform that could operate from carriers, relying instead on land-based systems and limited-range rotary-wing assets such as the Z-18J. This has constrained the operational range and responsiveness of its carrier strike groups. With the KJ-600, China will be able to detect and manage threats beyond the line of sight of its surface fleet, provide early warning against enemy aircraft and missiles, and support coordinated multi-domain operations. This force multiplier significantly enhances China's ability to contest airspace far from its shores and conduct independent naval operations in blue-water environments.

From a U.S. perspective, the emergence of the KJ-600 introduces a new layer of complexity in the Indo-Pacific theater. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye has long given the U.S. Navy a dominant airborne surveillance capability with its AN/APY-9 radar, advanced networking, and battle management systems. Comparing the two aircraft in tactical and technical terms highlights the narrowing gap in AEW&C capabilities between the PLAN and the U.S. Navy.

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is powered by two Rolls-Royce T56-A-427A turboprop engines and features the AN/APY-9 radar, capable of simultaneously tracking air and surface targets, including stealth fighters and cruise missiles, at ranges exceeding 550 km. The E-2D is fully integrated into the U.S. Navy’s Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), allowing it to share sensor data in real time with Aegis-equipped ships, F-35s, and other platforms. This high level of connectivity enables a seamless common operational picture and facilitates precision engagements at long range.

The KJ-600, although newer, appears to follow a similar structural and operational design philosophy. It is also equipped with a twin-turboprop propulsion system and a rotodome housing an AESA radar, which is believed to provide comparable 360-degree coverage and multi-target tracking capabilities. While specific radar performance metrics are not publicly confirmed, Chinese military sources suggest it can track low-observable targets and manage high-density airspace. However, the KJ-600’s data fusion and interoperability may still lag behind the E-2D, as China is in earlier stages of developing an integrated combat cloud comparable to U.S. CEC systems.

In terms of payload and crew configuration, both aircraft likely operate with a five-person crew consisting of two pilots and three mission system operators. The KJ-600’s cabin reportedly incorporates advanced mission consoles, though the level of automation and sensor integration remains an area where the E-2D retains an edge due to its maturity and combat-proven performance.

Tactically, the KJ-600 enhances China’s capacity for fleet coordination, missile defense, and deep-water air control. It is a key enabler for extending China’s anti-access/area denial envelope and improving real-time response to U.S. or allied carrier incursions. Still, while the E-2D is fielded in significant numbers across multiple U.S. carrier strike groups and benefits from a well-established operational ecosystem, the KJ-600 remains in limited deployment and must prove its effectiveness in integrated carrier operations under combat conditions.

While the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye remains the global benchmark for carrier-based AEW&C, the KJ-600 represents China’s most credible challenge yet to U.S. dominance in airborne naval command and control. As the PLAN continues to evolve its carrier strike doctrine, the KJ-600 will be pivotal in shaping the future maritime balance in the Asia-Pacific region.