October 21, Western military experts, the famous Chinese Johanna Weng (Johnathan Weng) in the “comprehensive report on China’s national defense” web site published an article some time ago through the analysis of China’s Internet exposure of early-warning helicopters for Direct -8 relevant circumstances.According to the article, while the Z-8 is the last century, imported from France 70 years, from a large helicopter platform, the prototype and its modification machines in service a long time. But through the recent pictures of China’s Internet by the exposure analysis, indeed confirmed the existence of such a plan for the Chinese navy carrier supporting the installation of early warning systems for Z-8 helicopters provided sufficient evidence.
Photographs showed that the early-warning-type Z-8 helicopter in the post-installation outside of a strip-array radar. According to the photo set in place, some analysts believe may be French Army Air Force aircraft to the existing fleet of Super Puma MK-II utility helicopters as a platform modified for the “Horizon” (Horizon) similar to airborne early warning system. “Horizon” on-board system is the Thomson-CSF company has developed the aerial observation of the battlefield radar (LCTAR), the radar antenna mounted on the appearance, such as balance beam inflatable radome, the radome from the specially treated water-resistant fiber skin system Cheng. Radome under the rear in a helicopter rotating bracket, in the take-off and landing, antenna Zhaoxiang the recovered fuselage and tail rotor in the post-collection junction. In the early warning process, up to 3.5-meter antenna cover is launched vertically. Radome rotation to work from the stowed position to the start position just 14 seconds, the antenna can be a stable pitching and rolling movement, do circle scan. It is learned that, Z-8 type are equipped with an array of early warning radar will probably be taken with a similar work. It can even aircraft carrier task forces to provide low-altitude fighter a high degree of intelligence within the scope of early warning.
In June 2009, Richard Fisher (Rid Fisher) have been reported for the People’s Liberation Army is developing aircraft carrier battle groups supporting services for the plane, in the initial emphasis had been placed on the development of airborne early warning aircraft (hereinafter referred to AEW) and anti-submarine version of the The Changhe Z-8 helicopter production platform.
Of course, there is another modified early warning helicopters could be installed to provide the battlefield for the People’s Liberation Army Synthetic Aperture Scan mode (SAR-type) radar. However, Either way, the authors believe that it represents China’s military equipment and technology content in major developments.
At the same time, this also seems to indicate that China has ruled out buying cards from Russia – 31-type helicopters and AWACS possible.
