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China Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC)
KJ-500
China's third-generation airborne early-warning and control aircraft, built on the domestic Y-9 turboprop transport airframe as a lighter, more numerous complement to the Il-76-based KJ-2000. Over 60 have been built, making it the backbone of the PLA Air Force and Naval Air Force's AEW&C fleet, with export orders reported from Pakistan and Algeria.
In service since 2015 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-24
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Chinese state channel
State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.
Channel: State export agency
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 2015. Status: active · ~60 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 550 km/h |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 5,700 km |
| Endurance Time on station. Critical for UAVs and patrol platforms, higher means longer persistent coverage. | 12 h |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 77,000 kg |
|---|
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | 4x WoJiang WJ-6C turboprops |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 4 |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turboprop |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | Fixed dorsal radome with three AESA radar arrays for 360-degree coverage, Reported detection range ~470 km against fighter-sized targets |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 60 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
Specifications compiled from public Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-24.
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KJ-500 vs
Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) KJ-500? +
The Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) KJ-500 has a maximum speed of 550 km/h.
What is the range of the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) KJ-500? +
The Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) KJ-500 has a maximum range of 5,700 km.
How much does the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) KJ-500 weigh? +
The Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) KJ-500 has a combat weight of 77,000 kg.
What engine does the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) KJ-500 use? +
The Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) KJ-500 is powered by the 4x WoJiang WJ-6C turboprops.
What is the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) KJ-500 used for? +
The Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) KJ-500 is a other typically used for isr, command control.
How many countries operate the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) KJ-500? +
The Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) KJ-500 is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) KJ-500 cost? +
Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) KJ-500: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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