AWACS aircraft are an important part of the modern navy's aircraft carrier battle group, they can provide all-round air, sea and ground intelligence in the sea area far from the mainland, and provide effective command and control and air defense and anti-missile capabilities for the aircraft carrier battle group. The U.S. Navy is the first country in the world to use carrier-based early warning aircraft, and its latest generation of E2D early warning aircraft is known as the "Advanced Hawkeye", with strong performance and combat capabilities. And the Chinese Navy is also actively developing its own carrier-based early warning aircraft, of which the Air Police 600 AWACS aircraft has been delivered to the Navy. It is expected to play an important role in the future ocean-going aircraft carrier battle group. So, can the Air Police 600 early warning aircraft surpass the US Navy's "advanced Hawkeye"? This article will make a comparative analysis from the following aspects.
The E2D AWACS aircraft is the fourth generation of carrier-based AWACS aircraft of the US Navy, officially put into service in 2015, is an upgraded version of the E2C AWACS aircraft, using twin-engine turboprop power, high flat straight wings, carrying disc antennas and double vertical tail layout, fuselage length of 17.5 meters, wingspan of 24.6 meters, maximum take-off weight of 26 tons, maximum range of 2500 km, maximum endurance of 6 hours, maximum flight speed of 650 km / h, maximum ceiling of 11000 meters, crew of 5 people.
The Air Police 600 early warning aircraft is a carrier-based early warning aircraft specially designed by the Chinese Navy for the future ocean-going aircraft carrier battle group, using a twin-engine turboprop power, straight wing, a backpack disc antenna and a double vertical tail layout, the fuselage length is 18.7 meters, the wingspan is 28.6 meters, the maximum take-off weight is 29 tons, the maximum range is 3000 kilometers, the maximum endurance is 8 hours, the maximum flight speed is 700 km / h, the maximum ceiling is 12000 meters, and the crew is 4 people.
From the perspective of model design, the Air Police 600 early warning aircraft is slightly better than the E2D early warning aircraft in terms of fuselage size, take-off weight, range, endurance, flight speed and ceiling, which means that the Air Police 600 early warning aircraft has better maneuverability and survivability, can perform tasks at a longer distance and higher altitude, and can also reach the target area and get out of danger faster. The E2D AWACS aircraft has one more crew member, which may mean that the E2D AWACS aircraft has more human resources in terms of combat management and data processing.
Radar performance
The biggest feature of the E2D early warning aircraft is that it is equipped with a digital phased array meter-wave radar, which is a world-leading radar technology, which can search, track and identify multiple targets in the air, sea and ground at the same time, with strong anti-stealth capabilities and anti-jamming capabilities, can find targets 500-600 kilometers away, can control multiple missiles at the same time, and can provide integrated air defense and anti-missile capabilities for the aircraft carrier battle group.
According to the analysis of some experts, the radar of the air police 600 early warning aircraft may use more advanced quantum radar technology, which is the principle of quantum entanglement and quantum stealth, which can achieve ultra-long distance, ultra-high precision, ultra-low power consumption, super anti-jamming radar detection, can find targets 1000 kilometers away, can monitor multiple signals at the same time, can penetrate the stealth coating, and has strong anti-stealth capabilities.
From the perspective of radar performance, the air police 600 early warning aircraft may surpass the E2D early warning aircraft in radar technology, if the air police 600 early warning aircraft really uses quantum radar technology, then it will have unparalleled detection capabilities and anti-stealth capabilities, can find and identify enemy targets at a longer distance and in a more complex environment, and provide more powerful information support for the aircraft carrier battle group.
Combat capabilities
The combat capability of the E2D early warning aircraft is not only reflected in its radar performance, but also in its joint combat capability with other platforms of the US Navy, the E2D early warning aircraft can carry out real-time information sharing and data transmission with aircraft carriers, destroyers, fighter jets, cruise missiles, etc. through satellite communications, data links and radios, forming an efficient combat network to achieve precise strikes and effective interception of enemy targets.
The combat capability of the Air Police 600 early warning aircraft has not yet been tested in actual combat, but according to the development plan of the Chinese Navy, the Air Police 600 early warning aircraft will conduct joint training and Xi exercises with the Chinese Navy's aircraft carriers, destroyers, fighters, anti-ship missiles, etc., to establish a perfect combat system and achieve effective control and strikes against enemy targets.
From the perspective of combat capabilities, the E2D early warning aircraft has more experience and optimization in combat management and data transmission, which can better give full play to the advantages of its radar performance and provide comprehensive support for the US Navy's aircraft carrier battle group. The Air Police 600 early warning aircraft needs to be further verified and improved in terms of combat capabilities, and more coordination and cooperation with other platforms of the Chinese Navy are needed to give full play to the potential of its radar performance and provide effective support for the Chinese Navy's aircraft carrier battle group.
conclusion
On the whole, the Air Police 600 early warning aircraft has shown certain advantages in model design and radar performance, but its combat capability needs to be continuously verified and improved in future practical applications. The Chinese Navy's ocean-going aircraft carrier battle group is developing rapidly, and the Air Police 600 early warning aircraft is expected to play an important role in it, competing with the United States' E2D early warning aircraft. In the near future, these two AWACS aircraft may jointly witness changes in the international maritime military balance.