This system will give Pakistan advance information about the operations of the Indian Air Force, say reports
New Delhi: Pakistan has confirmed that it is going to buy KJ-500 surveillance aircraft from China after India shot down two of its three SAAB AEW&C surveillance aircraft during Operation Sindoor. The Indian S-400 air defense system made a record by shooting down a SAAB AEW&C from a distance of 314 kilometers after which Pakistan’s surveillance capability has been destroyed by more than 70 percent. But now Pakistan’s confirmation of the acquisition of the Chinese KJ-500 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft can pose a new strategic challenge for India. China claims that this aircraft is not just a surveillance platform but a ‘flying command center’, which will give Pakistan advance information about the operations of the Indian Air Force.
What is KJ-500 AEW&C?
KJ-500 is a state-of-the-art airborne early warning system developed by China’s Shanxi Aircraft Corporation. This aircraft is based on the Y-9 transport platform and has a permanent AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar installed in it, which gives 360-degree coverage. This radar system is capable of detecting fighter jets flying at a distance of 470 kilometers or more. If China’s claim is true, it will mean that Pakistan can now look deep inside Indian airspace, that too without crossing the border. If a KJ-500 is flying near Lahore, it can track air activities up to New Delhi.
What are the features of KJ-500?
Defense experts believe that the cost of each KJ-500 aircraft is around $300 million which is much less than the surveillance aircraft built by American Boeing. China claims that it can fly continuously for about 12 hours and it is capable of flying continuously for 5700 kilometers. Pakistani experts believe that this aircraft gets the ability to maintain constant situational awareness on disputed air corridors from the Arabian Sea to the Himalayan borders. Actually, the AEW&C platform is not limited to just seeing. Its real strategic value is seen when it connects with fighter jets, drones, missile batteries and ground control centers through a network. KJ-500 will provide Pakistan with real time data processing and command and control, which will speed up its decision-making process.
What are India’s preparations against China-Pakistan combination?
Experts believe that the KJ-500 may trouble the Indian Air Force initially, but not for long because India has invested heavily in the defense sector and is working on many projects to strengthen its electronic warfare system. India’s Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the ‘Acceptance of Necessity’ for the Rs 10,000 crore ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) project. This decision is a part of India’s defense modernization program, under which the Air Force will get three state-of-the-art ISTAR aircraft. The specialty of these aircraft will be that they will integrate indigenous technology, sensors and electronic systems developed by DRDO along with world-class aviation platforms. India is preparing its defense much faster than Pakistan and the China-Pakistan alliance, though a matter of concern, but there is no need to be afraid.
