KJ-200 Moth
Chinese airborne early warning and control aircraft, developed in the early 21st century, deployed in military surveillance and command operations. Key figures: top speed 660 km/h, range 5,615 km, service ceiling 10,400 m, max takeoff weight 61,000 kg, built 11. In service with 1 air force as of 2026 — China (11).
| Length | 34.0 m (111.6 ft) |
| Wingspan | 38 m (124.7 ft) |
| Height | 11.2 m (36.6 ft) |
| Wing area | 121.9 m² (1312.1 sqft) |
| Empty weight | 35,490 kg (78,242 lbs) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 61,000 kg (134,482 lbs) |
| Powerplant | 4 × Zhuzhou WJ-6 turboprop 3,170 kW each |
| Maximum speed | 660 km/h (410 mph) |
| Operational range | 5,615 km (3,489 mi) |
| Service ceiling | 10,400 m (34,121 ft) |
| Climb rate | 10.0 m/s (32.8 ft/s) |
Description
The KJ-200 (NATO reporting name: Moth), also designated Y-8W and colloquially known as the GX-5, is an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft developed by the Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation of China. Development of the aircraft began in 2002 after the United States blocked the sale of the Israeli EL/W-2090 Phalcon radar to China. Led by chief designer Ouyang Shaoxiu, the program modified approximately 80% of the baseline Shaanxi Y-8 military transport aircraft. The KJ-200 made its first flight in January 2005. A second aircraft crashed in 2006 due to wing icing, which delayed the program.
Design
The aircraft's primary sensor is a JY-06 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. This radar is mounted in a balance beam configuration above the fuselage, resembling the Ericsson Erieye radar system.
Operational History
The KJ-200 entered service with the People's Liberation Army in 2007 and made its first public appearance at the Chinese National Day Parade in 2009. The People's Liberation Army Air Force operates four of the aircraft, while the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force operates six. In February 2017, a KJ-200 and a US Navy Lockheed P-3 Orion passed within 300 meters (1,000 feet) of each other over the South China Sea.
Variants
- KJ-200: This is the base airborne early warning and control variant.
- KJ-200A: This version was first observed in December 2016 and features a revised nose section and new electronics.
- KJ-200AG: This is the unofficial designation for a KJ-200A modified with an inflight air refueling probe.
- KJ-200H: This version is a modified KJ-200 configured for the People's Liberation Army Navy.
- KJ-200B: This variant adds satellite communications and new electronics, first observed in 2016 and entering service in 2023.
Identified in 2 sorties in the official China-Taiwan Tensions activity reports between 2023 and 2023 — a floor, not a census: only sorties the source identified by type are counted, and how much it disclosed varies by year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of aircraft is the KJ-200 Moth?
What is the maximum speed of the KJ-200 Moth?
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When did the KJ-200 Moth first fly?
How many KJ-200 Moth have been built?
Which countries operate the KJ-200 Moth?
What is the service ceiling of the KJ-200 Moth?
- AUG 142026 Updated Air force inventory entries relinked from the generic type they were filed under
- JUL 232026 Updated Sources and cross-references refreshed
- JUN 302026 Created Page created: KJ-200 Moth