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China's Shaanxi Aircraft Company will soon complete manufacture of a third Y-8 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft (believed to be designated KJ-200): a process that has been accelerated in response to the crash of the second aircraft in June.
The loss of the aircraft and the death of 40 key programme technical staff on board were major setbacks to the project, which has led to a review of operations, according to a source close to the programme.
Based on an Antonov An-12 transport aircraft, the Y-8 has also been adapted for maritime patrol and AEW missions with a rotodome. Two or three KJ-200 aircraft are planned to operate as part of a joint AEW network alongside KJ-2000 airborne warning and control system aircraft based on Ilyushin Il-76 platforms. Under this concept, the KJ-2000 would operate as a command aircraft for the KJ-200s and provide a datalink capability as part of the People's Liberation Army Air Force fleet.
