Maximum radar range stated for Erieye =
450 km.
phalcon radar range:
1. "Over land... ranges of
400 km are possible with tactical routing" according to
Article #1347, The Value of the Phalcon AWACS for India, by IPCS (an Indian think-tank)...
...Looks to me like Saab 2000 Erieye has a similar radar range as the phalcon, if not better. Which other performance differences are you talking about?
Be fair mate!
This is what your source number 1. really said:
Over the Horizon Radar accrue to the Phalcon AWACS, by operating at about 30,000 feet and thus being able to monitor low level activity in the air space up to ranges of 500 km. On Indias western borders, such surveillance over sea will yield optimum results in reporting both air and sea activity. Over land, advantages of detection ranges may have to be marginally forsaken to protect the AWACS aircraft against SAMS but ranges of 400 km are possible with tactical routing
So the Phalcon has a range of 500 Km for low flying air targets, operated over the sea where it don't have to face SAMS. Over land it could be operated different to avoid such threats, then the range will be limited to 400Km.
However the more important point is, if you compare both aircrafts you have to keep attention to find sources that talks not only about ranges, but also about what kind of target! The Erieye for example is reported to have an instrumental detection range of 450Km, but the Saab brochure shows that it detects fighters in less than 400Km range, ships in less than 300Km and cruise missiles in less than 200Km. Those 450Km range might be for bigger aircrafts like transporters, or tankers.
So if 500Km is the max range of Phalcon, 400Km should be the range where it detects fighters!
I think both systems are comparable in their capabilities, but the main advantage for the Phalcon comes with the IL 76 plattform. It offers more space for more crew, equipment, bigger powerplants for the radar, in flight refueling, full 360° coverage, can carry more payload, more internal fuel, is faster, has more range and can fly higher.
IL-76MF Operational Strategic Military Transport Airplane
http://products.saabgroup.com/PDBWebNew/GetFile.aspx?PathType=ProductFiles&FileType=Files&Id=8081
Most of these advantages are the same for KJ 2000 compared to Saab 2000 Erieye, so the plattform does make a difference.