aimarraul
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Y-7 AEWC
The first blurred image of the mysterious Y-7 AWACS prototype is shown here, taken recently at XAC. In April 2005 a model was partially revealed during a visit of Chinese Vice Prime Minister to the 603 Institute. The model appears similar to American E-2C, characterized by a large rotodome and a large cooling intake on top of forward cabin. It also features two turboprop engines with 6-blade high-efficient propellers. This new AWACS might be based on the Y-7/MA-60 passenger aircraft but might also be a completely new deisgn. The radar may be a scale-down version used by KJ-2000 AWACS with three AESA arrays installed in a fixed rotodome. The emergence of Y-7 AWACS suggests that Chinese are working on a dedicated AWACS platform for the indigenous aircraft carrier which is currently under construction and will feature steam catapults. A recent rumor (September 2010) claimed that a prototype was built and is being tested at CFTE, featuring four E-2C style vertical tailfins. The fixed AESA radar is also being tested at CFTE onboard a Y-8 T0518 testbed.
The first blurred image of the mysterious Y-7 AWACS prototype is shown here, taken recently at XAC. In April 2005 a model was partially revealed during a visit of Chinese Vice Prime Minister to the 603 Institute. The model appears similar to American E-2C, characterized by a large rotodome and a large cooling intake on top of forward cabin. It also features two turboprop engines with 6-blade high-efficient propellers. This new AWACS might be based on the Y-7/MA-60 passenger aircraft but might also be a completely new deisgn. The radar may be a scale-down version used by KJ-2000 AWACS with three AESA arrays installed in a fixed rotodome. The emergence of Y-7 AWACS suggests that Chinese are working on a dedicated AWACS platform for the indigenous aircraft carrier which is currently under construction and will feature steam catapults. A recent rumor (September 2010) claimed that a prototype was built and is being tested at CFTE, featuring four E-2C style vertical tailfins. The fixed AESA radar is also being tested at CFTE onboard a Y-8 T0518 testbed.