China's KJ-3000 radar planes may have entered production

Key facts

• Four KJ-3000 aircraft were observed at the Xi'an-Yanliang aviation complex on October 5, 2026.
• The KJ-3000 is based on the Y-20B strategic transport aircraft and powered by WS-20 turbofan engines.
• The aircraft features a large circular radome, an aerial refueling probe, and extensive sensors.

Four of China's next-generation KJ-3000 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft have been spotted at the Xi'an-Yanliang aviation complex, raising the possibility that the large radar planes are moving toward or have entered serial production. Satellite imagery captured on October 5, 2026, showed three KJ-3000s near the Xi'an Aircraft Company (XAC) facility, with a fourth at the nearby China Flight Test Establishment (CFTE). Analysts suggest the presence of four aircraft indicates the program is progressing beyond the prototype phase. The KJ-3000, also known as the KJ-20, is based on the Y-20B strategic transport aircraft and powered by indigenous WS-20 turbofan engines. It features a large circular radome, an aerial refueling probe, and extensive sensors and communications equipment.