C_A_M_2015_05_

KJ-500 enters service

New ‘mid-size’ AEW&C type on duty

T

HE FIRST CLEAR photos

showing the KJ-500 in

People’s Liberation Army Air

Force (PLAAF) service have

appeared on the Chinese

internet. The airborne early

warning and control (AEW&C) type entered

service with the PLAAF’s 26th Division

at the end of 2014. This is the PLAAF’s

next-generation medium-sized AEW&C

aircraft, development having begun at

Shaanxi in the late 2000s. Similar to the

KJ-200 (Y-8W), the type is also based on the

airframe of the latest Y-9 transport. However,

in contrast to the KJ-200’s ‘balance beam’

radar, the new antenna comprises a fi xed

rotodome containing three

active electronically scanned array

(AESA) antennae arranged in a triangular

confi guration, akin to the larger KJ-

‘Mainring’. The radar is again developed by

the 38th Institute.

At least two KJ-500 prototypes had been

built by late 2013 and were tested at the

China Flight Test Establishment (CFTE) at

Xi’an-Yanliang. It is expected that, due to the

shortage of additional Il-76MD airframes that

can be converted for the AEW&C role, this

new type will supplement the larger KJ-

as well as superseding the less capable

KJ-200. Andreas Rupprecht

A feature common to all the latest special-

missions types based on the Y-9 airframe

are the two large fairings housing ELINT

antennae on both sides of the rear

fuselage. via Chinese internet

Weaponized Black Hawks for UAE

Sikorsky is completing

development of an upgrade for 23

UH-60M helicopters operated by

the United Arab Emirates, which

will weaponize the Black Hawks.

Developed under a $270.5-million

contract announced in February

2011, the so-called Battlehawk kits

will allow the UH-60Ms to deliver

optically and laser-guided

anti-armor missiles including

Hellfi re and 2.75in laser-guided

rockets.

Once certifi cation is complete,

installation of the kits will begin,

this likely carried out by the

Advanced Military Maintenance

Repair and Overhaul Centre

(AMMROC) at Al Ain

International Airport in Abu

Dhabi. Established in 2010,

AMMROC is a joint venture

between Sikorsky, Lockheed

Martin and UAE state-owned

Mubadala Aerospace, which is

now part of the Emirates Defence

Industries Company (EDIC).

Although the development

program was completely funded

by the UAE, Sikorsky is offering it

to other customers. The

Battlehawk kits can be installed in

both the UH-60M and the S-70i

models of the Black Hawk.

The Tunisian Air Force will

receive the fi rst eight of 12

UH-60Ms in late 2015. Ordered in

August 2014, at a cost of $

million, delivery of the Black

Hawks had been scheduled for

2017 and 2018 but was advanced

due to increased terrorist activity

the region. Battlehawk kits will

allow the Tunisian UH-60Ms to

fi eld laser-guided rockets, Hellfi re

missiles, 7.62mm and 0.5in caliber

machine guns, as well as

providing electro-optical/infra-red

sensors and laser designators.

Tom Kaminski

Korean Wildcat

on fl ight test

Wearing the UK military serial ZZ542, 15-0602 is an

AgustaWestland Wildcat Mk210 for South Korea. The helicopter was

noted undertaking test  ying at Yeovil, England on February 26.

Korea selected the Wildcat in January 2013, and eight examples are

planned to be delivered beginning this year. Ian Simpson

16 May 2015 http://www.combataircraft.net

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