The Xi'an KJ-600 is a specialized airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft developed for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). It represents a significant technological milestone as China's first fixed-wing, carrier-compatible AEW&C platform designed for catapult-equipped vessels, such as the CV-18 Fujian. The aircraft is intended to replace the reliance on helicopter-based early warning systems, which offer limited altitude and range, thereby extending the sensor and command-and-control reach of Chinese carrier strike groups.
Developed through a collaboration between the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) and the 603 Institute (the Xi'an Aircraft Design Institute of AVIC), the KJ-600 likely draws design ancestry from the JZY-01 AEW&C testbed, which was a four-rudder variant of the Y-7 transport. The aircraft features a high-wing configuration and a distinctive four-fin tail arrangement. To facilitate operations on carrier decks and within hangars, the KJ-600 is equipped with folding wings. Its tricycle landing gear is notably integrated into the engine nacelles. Satellite imagery analysis estimates the aircraft's length at approximately 18.4 meters and its extended wingspan at roughly 24.4 meters, with an overall weight estimated between 25 and 30 tons.
Technically, the KJ-600 is powered by two WJ-6C (or FWJ-6C) turboprop engines, a mature powerplant family derived from the Soviet AI-20. The aircraft's primary mission equipment is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar housed within a prominent dorsal rotodome. This system allows the aircraft to detect and track missiles and aircraft at extended ranges while providing guidance for fighters and long-range missiles. The crew is estimated to consist of five to six personnel, including a pilot, a co-pilot, and three to four systems operators.
Prototype flight testing began in mid-2020. As of July 2023, at least six prototype airframes have been identified, including multiple flying prototypes and one static test frame. While low-rate initial production is anticipated, full-rate series production has not been officially confirmed. The aircraft is manufactured at XAC facilities located in the Yanliang District of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.