Pakistan's Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircrafts

[ali_raza]

ZDK-03 does not have an AESA radar. It has a rotating PESA. Erieye is superior to it as a radar but being a wedge design it does not have 360 degree coverage. Chinese KJ200 and 500 series use a circular AESA design which may be the optimal solution, since it is AESA with 360 degree coverage. ZDK-03 can be fitted with such a radar too, something I hope Pakistan considers in the future, since The platform itself is superior due to longer range.
Saab-2000 is fine as a platform for AWACS, the space or upgradation issues you mentioned are not actual issues.

wht about we upgraded saab to a jet powered plane

 

[iLION12345_1]

wht about we upgraded saab to a jet powered plane

Saab 2000 is the name of the plane, the system on it is the eriye, similarly Y8600F is the name of the aircraft and ZDK-03 is the name of the system on it.

It may be feasible to swap the Radar system on the Y8600F from the rotating PESA to a fixed dish AESA in the future, but currently both these radars are very good and ample for our needs. Pakistan has a rather large AWACS fleet of 12, so range and uptime shouldn’t be that big of a problem.

It will likely not be feasible to swap the Erieyes on to a jet powered plane because that would mean converting and entirely new aircraft into an AWACS system after removing the system from an already configured aircraft. The Saab-2000 is a good enough platform for now. (Or if you meant turn the Saabs themselves into jet powered aircraft, I don’t think that’s possible without redesigning the entire thing)

Though going into the next decade, Pakistan will need to start looking into replacing turboprop AWACS with jet powered ones. The navy is already doing it with its Sea Sultan systems to replace P3C Orions.

 

[ghazi52]

Flying Radar

 

[ali_raza]

Saab 2000 is the name of the plane, the system on it is the eriye, similarly Y8600F is the name of the aircraft and ZDK-03 is the name of the system on it.

It may be feasible to swap the Radar system on the Y8600F from the rotating PESA to a fixed dish AESA in the future, but currently both these radars are very good and ample for our needs. Pakistan has a rather large AWACS fleet of 12, so range and uptime shouldn’t be that big of a problem.

It will likely not be feasible to swap the Erieyes on to a jet powered plane because that would mean converting and entirely new aircraft into an AWACS system after removing the system from an already configured aircraft. The Saab-2000 is a good enough platform for now. (Or if you meant turn the Saabs themselves into jet powered aircraft, I don’t think that’s possible without redesigning the entire thing)

Though going into the next decade, Pakistan will need to start looking into replacing turboprop AWACS with jet powered ones. The navy is already doing it with its Sea Sultan systems to replace P3C Orions.

the thing i heard from a credible source is that biggest limiting factor in erieeye range is not flying high enough for which jet is required

 

[iLION12345_1]

the thing i heard from a credible source is that biggest limiting factor in erieeye range is not flying high enough for which jet is required

many countries still use turboprop powered AWACS, the PAF checked the platform before it picked it. By the time we need to upgrade, the PAF will already be on that, both Chinese and European sources are open to us. Pakistan has been working on its own radar tech too. The service ceiling is lower than jet powered ones, but not low enough that it could not track enemy aircraft. After all, that’s exactly what they did on 27th February.

 

[Blacklight]

the thing i heard from a credible source is that biggest limiting factor in erieeye range is not flying high enough for which jet is required

Jet powered aircrafts have other advantages as well, but given how easily peoples ego gets hurt, its best left unsaid.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Jet powered aircrafts have other advantages as well, but given how easily peoples ego gets hurt, its best left unsaid.

All in good time. IMO it is a bit much to expect PAF to upgrade all erieyes to jet powered AWACS...
...it would be a waste of the previous investment to an extent...and not to mention using funds for that would mean not being able to address other more pressing needs.

In the future though...I hope all three services make efforts to standardize the platforms they use as the basis of whatever specialized asset they are going to induct.

 

[Windjammer]

 

[ali_raza]

Jet powered aircrafts have other advantages as well, but given how easily peoples ego gets hurt, its best left unsaid.

u r right
people are too stuck there heads in sand
case in point general electric engines vs pratt engines
which was clearly more advanced and more rugged and packed more punch

 

[Scorpiooo]

Jet powered aircrafts have other advantages as well, but given how easily peoples ego gets hurt, its best left unsaid.

@Blacklight. Whats the reason in your opnion PAF not going for jet powered options

u r right
people are too stuck there heads in sand
case in point general electric engines vs pratt engines
which was clearly more advanced and more rugged and packed more punch

Problem

u r right
people are too stuck there heads in sand
case in point general electric engines vs pratt engines
which was clearly more advanced and more rugged and packed more punch

Problem with our BaBas (decision makers) is there mind set .. that do not change with time .. they remain in past when they were young ..they want to stick with those .. even when new and better options are available

 

[Blacklight]

@Blacklight. Whats the reason in your opnion PAF not going for jet powered options

Jet powered aircrafts have other advantages as well, but given how easily peoples ego gets hurt, its best left unsaid.

 

[Bossman]

@Blacklight. Whats the reason in your opnion PAF not going for jet powered options

Problem

Problem with our BaBas (decision makers) is there mind set .. that do not change with time .. they remain in past when they were young ..they want to stick with those .. even when new and better options are available

What makes you guys such experts? Turbo props have much lower operating cost and longer loiter time. Plus for Pakistan’s geography turbo props are better. Turbo props are jets engines with props.

 

[m52k85]

Jet powered aircrafts have other advantages as well, but given how easily peoples ego gets hurt, its best left unsaid.

Dear sir, please dont let peoples egos matter, children will always be passionate about their interest, on this forum that is patriotism. That shouldnt stop the experienced and well informed from speaking sanity. We have had too many informed members leave over the years because of this reason. Thanks.

 

[ghazi52]

 

[Zarvan]

Any chance of 4 to 6 of these in near future.