KJ-1 AEWC
Xi'an Aircraft Corporation / AVIC · China · first flew 1971 · reconnaissance aircraft
China's first airborne early warning aircraft, the KJ-1 was a Tu-4 Bull strategic bomber converted to carry a large surveillance radar rotodome — a direct analogue to the American EC-121.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Soviet-derived unpressurised fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tu-4 Bull airframe hosting a large rotodome
- four radial piston engines
- Soviet-derived unpressurised fuselage
Unmistakable as the only Tu-4 airframe fitted with a prominent rotodome above the rear fuselage. The four large radial engines and the B-29-lineage fuselage shape distinguish it from later Chinese AEW types on jet transports.
Specifications
- The KJ-1 AEWC has a length of 30.8 m (101 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 43.1 m (141 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 558 km/h (347 mph).
- Typical crew: 12.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Facing a lack of indigenous jet AEW platforms in the early 1970s, China adapted its fleet of Soviet-supplied Tupolev Tu-4 bombers. A large rotodome housing a ground-mapping and early-warning radar was mounted above the fuselage. The programme demonstrated Chinese intent to field AEW capability though technical limitations restricted operational effectiveness.
Variants
A single prototype or very small number of conversions are believed to have been completed. The programme led eventually to the more capable KJ-200 and KJ-2000 on modern jet platforms.
Where you'll see it
Operated in very limited numbers by the People's Liberation Army Air Force, primarily as a technology demonstrator rather than a frontline AEW asset.
Related aircraft
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