Just found at the CDF posted by Xinhui !
…. esp. the last paragraph in bold is interesting !!! :diablo:
fair use
Date Posted: 20-Oct-2006
JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY – OCTOBER 25, 2006
China speeds production of AEW&C aircraft
Yihong Chang JDW Correspondent
Hong Kong & London
China’s Shaanxi Aircraft Company (SAC) 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.
Investigations are continuing into the crash of the KJ-200 and, according to the source, this investigation will be used as the basis for a “major shake-up” of operations. It is believed that the KJ-200 took off in poor weather. The source said that, before the KJ-200 incident, the de-icing systems on the wings of two other Y-8 aircraft had already experienced problems.
In a bid to get the programme back on track, representatives of the Chinese Aviation Industry Delegation met Antonov officials at the Farnborough International air show in July as part of an effort to develop the improved Y-8F600 variant. A key change in the new variant will be an improved engine instrument and crew alerting system, the failure of which one industry source believes may have contributed to the crash, and a new de-icing system. The KJ-200 uses an indigenous Chinese electric heating anti-icing system, while the Y-8F600 will be fitted with pneumatic de-icing boots imported from France. The first flight of the Y-8F600 is expected during 2006, according to an Antonov source.
Another result of the crash is renewed interest from the Chinese government in the manufacture of large transport aircraft, particularly with regard to involvement in the construction of the 47-tonne Antonov An-70. A Chinese aviation industry source said that plans for involvement in the manufacture of large aircraft include the development of a “large bomber aircraft”.
It is possible, according to the source, that “building large transport aircraft” may go ahead first so as to accumulate enough experience in designing and manufacturing large aircraft for other programmes.
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