KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft. (Photo/huanqiu.com)

Multiple models of Chinese airborne early warning aircraft (AEW) such as KJ-500, Kj-2000, and KJ-200 fly over Tian'anmen Square during China's V-Day military parade on Sept. 3, 2015. It was the debut of the KJ-500, which had draw attention from all over the world.

China had urgent needs for new type AEWs during the past many years; however, the research and production of China's AEW were dependent on foreign platforms for a very long period of time. 

Lu Jun, chief scientist of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), said，"we realized that to keep a firm grasp on the development and safety of the country, we must master the core technologies and have proprietary intellectual property rights."

In the process of the research and development of KJ-500, engineers from CETC not only used new radar technology, they also realized the localization of all the subsystems found in the information system. Through in-situ replacement, redesign and other methods, the localization rate of components and parts has also been greatly improved. The core information platform server of the radar has realized 100 percent localization. The experience of KJ-500 proved again that core equipment and key technology can never be imported. 

With the joint efforts of CETC, China Aviation Industry Group and other companies, the development of the KJ-500 was a success, which means that China’s AEW R&D has been totally free from foreign platforms.