Shaanxi ZDK-03 Karakoram Eagle AEW&C © Defence.pk

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In 2006, Pakistan signed a contract with the Chinese firm “Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC)” for the development and construction of 4 AWACS airplanes, with the code name ZDK-03 Karakoram Eagle, to be delivered in 2008. Their name comes from the acronym of the constructing firm and reads as “Dian Zhong Ke”, while the number “3” represents the third AWACS airplanes acquired by that firm, with the other two being KJ-2000 andKJ-200.

In the beginning of 2006, China was already carrying out tests of the ZDK-03, based on Y-8 aircraft. The first official presentation took place in November 2010 at the Shaanxi Aircraft Company facilities, while at the beginning of 2011, the aerial tests of the system started, from both sides. The deliverance of the first plane (s/n 11-001) to the Pakistani side was done on November 2011. The second and third aircrafts were delivered in December of the same year.

This order from Pakistan was the first successful contract for a 100% Chinese airborne early warning system. Indeed, all the electronic system, the AESA radar including and the fast processing CPUs, were Chinese made.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS