KJ-200 (Moth) Chinese Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Aircraft
KJ-200


The KJ-200 (NATO reporting name: Moth or Y-8 Balance Beam system, is an Airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) program developed by Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation. (KJ is from the first characters of the Pinyin spelling of (Kōng Jǐng), short for (Kōng Zhōng Yù Jǐng), which means Airborne Early Warning). The key component of this aircraft is an AESA radar system, visually similar to the Saab Erieye system, mounted on struts above the rear fuselage, as well as ventral sensor domes. The platform of this aircraft is based on the Shaanxi Y-8F-600, and it has been reported that Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150B turboprops and Honeywell avionics have been incorporated. The general designer of the KJ-200 is Ouyang Shaoxiu, the same general designer of the Y-8. According to Ouyang, the KJ-200 has been significantly modified (around 80%) from the original Y-8, including the adoption of a glass cockpit.