조기경보기 흥미위주로 발췌한 아-태 지역 조기경보기 관련기사(Miltech)

[ssn688]

Miltech 2008년 11월호의 "AEW for All in Asia-Pacific"(by Tim Robinson)에서 어디까지나 개인적인 흥미위주로 제멋대로 발췌해봤습니다. :)

As the most important node in controlling air battle, these Hight Value Assets(of which there will only be a few) are key targets for the enemy. whether the threats take the form of dedicated long-range radar-homing anti-AWACS missiles now being developed by Russia and China, or are as simple as a grenade attack on the AWACS squadron main base that cripples the aircraft temporarily, these assets will need extra security and protection in any shooting war.

Today's aerial surveillance platforms have also expanded their roles and missions. No longer focused on early detection of incoming enemy bombers, the 21st century AEW&C crew can be expected to fullfil a wider range of additional tasks, to include border patrol, anti-drugs smuggling missions and homeland security tasks to name but three. This now justfies the "C" for Control added to the AEW designations. Even in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, where air-to-air threats are non-existent, AEW&C aircraft perform a vital role in controlling and de-conflicting coalition strike forces and observing the battlespace. In humanitarian roles and mission too, where earthquakes or flooding could knock-out ground radars, an AEW aircraft can be vital in providing emergency ATC functions.

In parallel with expanded roles, today's AEW&C platforms also boast more impressive capabilities. Faster computers with more processing power, and now steerable AESA radars can track more targets ever more accurately, and fuse air and sea taargets to present an all-encompassing view of the battlespace. Further, as data-links and the network-centric warfare becomes the norm for militaries, AEW aircraft are becoming key nodes on the battlespace thanks to their capability to "suck up" information and desseminate it to friendly forces. These network links can even transform obsolete fighters into higly dangerous adversaries. The RAF's TORNADO F3, erlegated to second line defence in the 1991 Gulf War, was turned into a lethal warfighter able to notch up many virtual kills on exercises, by linking it to AWACS radar picture through the JTIDS. Meanwhile the US, with its "iron triad" of AWACS, JSTARS, and RIVET JOINT, has a full spectrum view of the electronic battlespace that is the envy of many countries - and these three assets sharing information provide a formidable capability.

-> 왜 조기경보기가 필요한가, 조기경보 쓰면 뭐가 좋은가... 그리고 AEW&C에 커플링하면 좋은 아이템♡ [ AEW&C를 도입하고, 같은 플랫폼에 SIGINT 버전을 도입한 모 나라가 떠오르는군요... ]

Further into the future, some speculate that AEW&C platforms could add a further letter to their acronym - "U" for Unmanned - by acting as an airborne controller for UAVs and UCAVs. Eventually ti may be that, with hi-speed broadband links, the operators might be taken out of the aircraft completely to create a totally unmanned AEW system. The Gulfstream G550 that forms the basis of IAI/Elta's CAEW already features boradband data links to ground stations, and it ahs been previously proposed as a unmanned/optionally piloted ISR asset for the US Navy's BAMS(Borad Area Maritime Surveillance) requirement.

China

China has long nurtured an ambition to develop a viable indigenous AWACS capability after being shut off from both US and Russian AEW technology. An alternative source appeared haveing been found in the late 90s when Israel agreed to sell a PHALCON radar system. However, this sale inflamed Washington and after heavy pressure the deal was scrapped in 2000. Accordingly efforts to develop home-grown AEW techonology ware redoubled, with China moving ahead with two prototype systems - an Il-76-based design called the KJ-2000, and another system based on the Y-8(AN-12) turboprop transport and designated KJ-200.

The KJ-2000, fitted with a rotordome housing a phased-array radar flew for the first time in 2003, and there are now thought to be four aircraft modified to this standard. The KJ-200 used a completely different configuration, with an ERIEYE-like bean antenna mounted on the upper fuselage. However in 2006 the programme suffered a major setback when the aircraft crahsed, killing all personnel on board and robbing the project of skilled expertise.

As of today it has not been possible to ascertain whether the two parallel programmes were/are intended as competing proposals, with one of them to be eventually selected over the other, or rather are aimed at different operational niches and would be fielded in parallel. Speculation too, has arisen among China watchers that the radars may be based on foreign system, either by reverse-engineering, espionage or by outside companies providing unofficial help.

...... certainly the PLAAF is fully aware of the importance of US AWACS in providing battle-winning information and, like Russia, has been working on long-range AWACS-killing missiles to remove these asset from an enemy's inventory.

같은 권호의 중국공군 현대화 관련 기사(PLA Air Force in "Great Leap Forward" by Andrei Chang)에 실린 AEW&C 대목을 추가합니다.

It is generally believed that the KJ-2000 is fitted with phased array antennae and uses the IL-76MD as the platform. It is being developed by Nanjing No.14 Institute, and up to the present a total of four aircraft(B4040, B4041, B4043, 30074) have been produced for testing purposes. The KJ-2000's radar radome had longer diameter than the similar Russian A-50 design(approximately 10m) indicating that it places high priority on search range.

KJ-2000's major role lies in that it connects with the data link systems on the J-10A, Su-30MKK, Su-30MK2 and Su-27SK fighters. The emergence of KJ-2000 thus gives the PLAAF a combat information support platform for genuine joint operations of the Air Force and Navy. However, a source from the Chinese avation industry told the Author that this AEW&C aircraft was experiencing the problem of mutual interference among its different electronic equipments, and to completely solve this problem would still take a long time.

Plans exist to produce another four KJ-2000s, but the production scheule will depend on the status of the programme for the purchase of a new batch of 38 IL-76MD transport and IL-78 tankers.

Another AEW&C design for the PLAAF is the KJ-200. The aircraft uses a phased array radar antenna very similar to that of the Ericsson ERIEYE system, and the programme is said to be intended to satisfy a PLAAF's requirement for a low-cost AEW&C platform that will act as a "high/low team" with the more expensive KJ-2000. However, one of the only two KJ-200s crashed in 2006, which led to the temporary suspension of all flight activities. Final investigarion of the incident shows that the crash was caused by problem with the deicing device on the aircraft. The KJ-200P was developed by Hefei No.38 Institute, and was originally intended for export to Pakistan. In addition, China has introduced at least two types of EW aircraft using the Y-8 as the platform, these being intended for ESM/ECM and ELINT roles, respectively. All these new aircraft are part of the so-called "New and High-tech Projects"

India

A more successful customer for the Israeli-made Elta PHALCON radar system is India, which in 2004 ordered three IL-76-based systems in a $1.1 billion deal. this purchase came after the US lifted its arms restrictions on India, which had been in place due to nuclear testing in the 1990s and fears of an arms race with Pakistan. The selection of the IL-76 also followed the lease of two Russian A-50 MAINSTAYs in 2000. the first PHALCON-equipped AEW&C aircraft will be delivered to the Indian Air Force in early 2009, with a slippage of six months due to delays in flight testing.

The PHALCON radar is integrated onto the IL-76 platform with what appears to be a traditional rotordome, rather than the slabsided conformal arrays and large nose bulges of the original configuration for the Israel Air Force's and chilean Air Force's 707-based system. The PHALCON being a phased array radar, however, the dome is fixed and does not rotate, the beam being rather electronically steered.

The true capabilities of the PHALCON system that Inaia is acquiring are difficult to come by. Open-source estimates of the radar's range varies from 400km to an optimistic 500 miles, due to uncertainty thether the IAF is buying the same version of the radar as used by Israel, or an 'export-lite' variant. What is known, however, is this will be a step-up in air power capabilities for the IAF, to match the rest of India's expanding defence modernisation. In fact, IAF eval‎uators must be pleased with the PHALCON's capabilities, as India is now mulling the acquisition of three extra systems to give the IAF better coverage.

New Delhi is also continuing to work on an indigenous AEW capability - but, like China, this was dealt a blow in 1999 when a HS748 carrying a prototype radar system crashed, with eight engineers and aircrew from the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) dying in the accident. The latest plan is to buy three Embraer ERJ-145s, which will be integrated with a locally-developed Active Array Antennae Unit(AAAU) radar system developed by the DRDO, and be deployed from 2012 onwards.

The radar will have a maximum detection range of around 200km(or 375km in extened range mode). As well as the radar, which will be mounted in a 'beam' like the ERIEYE, the DRDO is also working on extending the EJ-145s endurance by fitting an in-flight refuelling probe, to allow it to remain on patrol for five or more hours. In the cabin, the aircraft will have five operators as well as two crew on the flight deck.

In spite of India's obvious civil software prowess, some bosservers question whether the indigenous radar project will ever succeed, and doubt the utility of continuing this project now that the PHALCON systems are entering service.

Finally India also operates Ka-31 AEW helicopters to provide over-the-horizon early warning for its Navy.

Japan

...... Ordered in 1992, delivery was completed in 1999 with the aircraft valued at some $840 million each. In November 2006 Japan placed a & 108 million contract with Boeing for the Radar System Improvement Programme(RSIP) which will improve the radars sensitivity, allowing it to detect and track smaller targets.

...... The E-767 AWACS, in service with the JASDF offers 50% more floor space, and nearly twice the internal volume of the 707-based E-3 AWACS which carries the same mission system. These feature are particularly significant in long-duration missions.

Malaysia

With a fighter force of F/A-18s, MiG-29s and now Su-30MKKs, Malaysia has a requirement for AEW&C platforms to make best use of these assets. In addition, due to a long(4,800km) coastline and the nearby Malacca Straits, the AEW&C chosen will also have to be a multimode system able to monitor maritime as wee as air targets.

In September 2008, the Armed Forces head, General Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal announced that a requirement has been formulated for up to eight AEW aircraft, and that although his would "incur huge expenses" it was vital for the country's defence. However unofficial sources have said the numbers may be closer two to four due to a lack of funds. Other observers doubt the priority of the programme, noting that the AEW procurement has already been postponed twice before.

Be this as it may, likely competitors for the Malaysian contest are Saab with its ERIEYE system, the IAI/Elta CAEW, and Northrop Grumman's HAWKEYE. Saab, for example, has talked about installing its ERIEYE radar on a EADS/CASA C-295, in order to provide an important commonality factor for Malaysian which operates the CN-235.

Pakistan

Accordingly in 2005 Pakistan ordered the Saab ERIEYE AEW&C system based on the Saab 2000 turboprop platform, under the name Porject "Horizon". This combination has already been proved in Swedigh Air Force's service with the ERIEYE radar mated with the Saab 340, and forms an essential part of Sweden's 'network-centric' air defence system. Pakistan originally ordered six systems, but this has now been reduced five.

The first aircraft was rolled out in Saab's Linkoping facility in April of this year, with the first flight on 29 April and going "flawlessly" according to the company. Saab now say that the aircraft is undergoing flight testing and media reports suggest that it will be delivered to the Pakistan Air Force(PAF) in 2009-10.

...... The AESA radar is mounted on a beam raised above the fuselage and has a 450km range, giving it an effective surveillance volume of 500,000sq.km, with the radar able to track targets up to above 65,000ft. While being optimised for air-to-air search and tracking, the ERIEYE, like other modern AEW systems, is also able to detect surface targets; Saab claims it can track a jetski-sized target from horizon to horizon from its perch at 30,000ft, as well as detect hovering helicopters. The ERIEYE system also incorporates an automatic identification system that will automatically track priority targets.

The radar is backed up by an HES-21 ESM system to allow for passive detection and tracking of hostile and unknown emitters, which is integrated with the radar tracks to enhance situational awareness. ......

The Saab 2000 ERIEYE configuration has five operator consles with colour touch-sensitive displays and digital maps. For long mission, the aircraft also has a galley, rest bunks and a crew rest area, where another mission display allow personnel taking a break to keep an eye on the evolving air picture. ......

The Saab 2000's background as a regional turboprop gives it an endurance, according to company figures of beyond 9.5 hours, with a service ceilling of 30,000ft. ......

The Pakistan Navy is also acquiring an AEW&C capability with three surplus P-3 ORIONs that will be fitted with the HAWKEYE's AEW system - similiar in configuration to the P-3 AEW aircraft operated by the US Customs Service on anti-drug missions.

Finally, in the framework of other Sino-Pakistan defence co-operation projects such as the J-7/FC-1 fighter, Pakistan and China have signed an agreement on the joint development of an AEW&C capability - a sign that like India, Islamabad is keen on keeping its option open.

Singapore

...... Additionally, the phased-array, electronically steered radar is said to incorporate a highly sophisticated filtering capability, known as Track-Before-Detect(TBD) whereby contact that might be traditionally discarded as spurious false returns are fused and double-checked to pick up low-flying, small or semi-stealthy targets. Elta says that the radar has a '4D' capability, i.e. the ability to track targets in space and time, and to separate small manoeuvring targets over cluttered terrain. ......

The platform chosen as the basis for the CAEW system, the Gulfstream G550 gives a high altitude of 41,000ft, boosting the radars horizon of the system, and has a loiter time of nine hours. IAI/Elta says this gives the G550 a significant advantage compared to the lower operating heights of AEW&C systems based on passenger airliner or turboprop platforms. ......

With its F-15SGs, F-16s and an interest in eventually procuring the F-35 LIGHTNING II, the CAEW will keep the RSAF among top-tier of Asia-Pacific military forces.

[폴라리스(최현호)]

파키스탄 최근 소식을 더하자면 중국제 KJ-2000 도입계약을 체결했죠....

[ssn688]

KJ-200 작은 물건이겠지요? 파키스탄은 돈 없는 나라가 은근히 '박물관'이 되어가는 듯합니다. :)

[폴라리스(최현호)]

(-_-...이런...나이먹다보니 눈까지 삐어가나....) 200이 맞내요..어쩐지..뭔돈으로 2000을 살라나..했었는데...

[강성현]

KJ-200이면 전에 추락으로 연구진 몰살 이야기 나왔던 Y-8 베이스인 녀석인가요?

[ssn688]

옙, Y-8 베이스 프롭기 맞습니다. 그 사고는 처음에 KJ-2000(큰 놈 제트기)이 떨어진 것으로 보도되었다가 KJ-200으로 밝혀졌지요.