Ilyushin
KJ-2000
The KJ‑2000 is a Chinese airborne early‑warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft that utilizes the robust Il‑76MD transport airframe built by the Ilyushin Design Bureau. Development began in the early 1990s when the People’s Liberation Army Air Force sought a high‑altitude platform capable of housing a large rotodome and advanced radar electronics. Ilyushin supplied the base airframes, while the Chinese Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation performed the conversion, completing flight testing by 2003 and entering service in 2004. The KJ‑2000’s most distinctive feature is its 30‑metre‑diameter rotating radar dome, which houses a mechanically scanned antenna capable of tracking up to 200 targets simultaneously at ranges exceeding 600 km. The aircraft is powered by four Aviadvigatel D‑30KP‑2 turbofan engines, granting a cruise speed of approximately 800 km/h and a service ceiling above 11 000 m, ensuring persistent surveillance over vast airspaces. Its integration of modern command‑and‑control suites enables real‑time data linking with fighter, air‑defence and ground units, dramatically extending situational awareness. The KJ‑2000 has become a cornerstone of China’s integrated air‑defence network, illustrating how the durable Il‑76 platform can be transformed into a sophisticated AEW&C system and influencing similar upgrade programs worldwide.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 2003
Design & Classification
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Ilyushin
- Wikidata ID
- Q1042505