Pakistan's Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircrafts

[DANGER-ZONE]

Ready to take off

 

[Manticore]

 

[Imran Khan]

color is damn dirty they should make it little more shining

 

[nomi007]

color is damn dirty they should make it little more shining

dear sir can pakistani awacs operates uavs like boeing737 awacs

 

[TaimiKhan]

If this picture is real and no Photoshop involved, then it means this is the 2nd ZDK of PAF as the tail says 11-002.

 

[fatman17]

If this picture is real and no Photoshop involved, then it means this is the 2nd ZDK of PAF as the tail says 11-002.

yes 2 a/c are delivered. both at Masroor. squadron re-equipment soon.

 

[Donatello]

yes 2 a/c are delivered. both at Masroor. squadron re-equipment soon.

Re-equip? Re-equip which one? Because the only such assets were Dassault Falcon and up north......but correct me if i am wrong.

So is it a new Squadron standing up or .....??

 

[fatman17]

Re-equip? Re-equip which one? Because the only such assets were Dassault Falcon and up north......but correct me if i am wrong.

So is it a new Squadron standing up or .....??[/QUOTE]

correct the sqn was number plated now standing up!

 

[Imran Khan]

dear sir can pakistani awacs operates uavs like boeing737 awacs

nope not at all dear we need more 30 years to reach there .

 

[fatman17]

ZDK-03 Cub

ZDK-03 Karakoram Eagle is an export AWACS system being developed for the Pakistani Air Force. This project was initiated in the early 2000. A Y-8 AWACS testbed (serial # T0518/Project 021) based on Y-8 Category II Platform was first discovered at CFTE in early 2006. Unlike KJ-200, this variant carries a traditional rotodome above its fuselage, with a mechanically rotating antenna inside. Therefore the Y-8 AWACS was speculated to be developed for the export market only as it appears less advanced than KJ-200 which features a fixed AESA radar. However this design does provide a true 360° coverage and carry a cheaper price tag. The AEW radar may be the product of the 38th Institute/CETC, but no details are available. The aircraft also features a solid nose and tail with MAWS sensors on both sides, as well as small vertical stabilizers attached to its tailplanes. The Y-8 AWACS protoype was promoted to Pakistani AF in 2006. After some negotiations a much improved design was developed based on PAF's specifications. The variant is now named ZDK-03 (ZDK means CETC) and is based on the new Y-8 Category III Platform featuring WJ-6C turboprops with 6-blade high efficiency propellers. It was reported in early 2009 that a total of 4 were ordered by PAF in a $278m contract. The first ZDK-03 prototype rolled out in November 2010 at SAC. Since then it has been undergoing test at CFTE (S/N 733). Another 3 were built by late 2011. ZDK-03 is expected to serve as the airborne command & control center for the JF-17 fighter fleet currently in service with PAF. However it does not have the secure NATO datalink installed to effectively command western fighter aircraft such as American F-16. The first ZDK-03 (S/N 11-001) was delivered to PAF in December 2011. The 2nd (S/N 11-002) is undergoing flight tests as well. (now delivered)

- Last Updated 12/21/11

 

[nomi007]

nope not at all dear we need more 30 years to reach there .

what is the meaning of zdk

 

[atlantis_cn]

what is the meaning of zdk

ZDK means China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, CETC. Literally Zhong(China) Dian(Electronics) Ke(Technology) in Chinese.

 

[air marshal]

January 2012

ZDK-03 'Karakoram Eagle' AWACS

 

[killerx]

good going in right directions

 

[gambit]

ZDK-03 Cub

ZDK-03 Karakoram Eagle is an export AWACS system being developed for the Pakistani Air Force. This project was initiated in the early 2000. A Y-8 AWACS testbed (serial # T0518/Project 021) based on Y-8 Category II Platform was first discovered at CFTE in early 2006. Unlike KJ-200, this variant carries a traditional rotodome above its fuselage, with a mechanically rotating antenna inside. Therefore the Y-8 AWACS was speculated to be developed for the export market only as it appears less advanced than KJ-200 which features a fixed AESA radar. However this design does provide a true 360° coverage and carry a cheaper price tag. The AEW radar may be the product of the 38th Institute/CETC, but no details are available. The aircraft also features a solid nose and tail with MAWS sensors on both sides, as well as small vertical stabilizers attached to its tailplanes. The Y-8 AWACS protoype was promoted to Pakistani AF in 2006. After some negotiations a much improved design was developed based on PAF's specifications. The variant is now named ZDK-03 (ZDK means CETC) and is based on the new Y-8 Category III Platform featuring WJ-6C turboprops with 6-blade high efficiency propellers. It was reported in early 2009 that a total of 4 were ordered by PAF in a $278m contract. The first ZDK-03 prototype rolled out in November 2010 at SAC. Since then it has been undergoing test at CFTE (S/N 733). Another 3 were built by late 2011. ZDK-03 is expected to serve as the airborne command & control center for the JF-17 fighter fleet currently in service with PAF. However it does not have the secure NATO datalink installed to effectively command western fighter aircraft such as American F-16. The first ZDK-03 (S/N 11-001) was delivered to PAF in December 2011. The 2nd (S/N 11-002) is undergoing flight tests as well. (now delivered)

- Last Updated 12/21/11

This is just my opinion...

A rotodome's has certain physical limitations that we found to be most effective at 6-10 rpm with the lower figure the higher target update. An AWACS is a tactical asset, meaning it is best in highly dynamic combat situations that demands participants to have constant situational awareness and be prepared to act decisively based upon AWACS inputs. The closer the AWACS is to the active combat air zone, the greater the need for target updates and to provide friendly air forces with information. Even at the lower figure of 6 rpm rotation, a few seconds while waiting for the antenna to return to its previous location could mean a friendly aircraft lost because he did not have sufficient updates from his rear quadrants.

While there are physical limitations upon the main AESA antenna that may prevent it from having true 360 deg coverage, the aircraft can reposition itself or have additional arrays installed to make up for that lack. Fighters have been living with that for years and each of them have only frontal coverage. Those who have experienced first hand the power and flexibility of an AESA system simply do not want anything less.