Chapter 2040 Early Warning Aircraft?

"Cheap? Then don't think about it. Even if the IL-76 is five times more expensive, it is still cheaper than the E2D."

The current mainstream early warning aircraft in the United States is the E2D, and there is no other option.

Among the flying vehicles of the U.S. Navy, there are still two fixed-wing propeller aircraft. One of them, the E-2 series early warning aircraft, is an improvement based on the products of the early 1960s. To this day, the performance of this early warning aircraft The variant remains the most important aircraft in the U.S. Navy's carrier battle group and its status is irreplaceable.

The latest improved version of the E-2 series, the E-2D "Advanced Hawkeye", can be called the pinnacle of carrier-based early warning aircraft.

The price is naturally the best.

"And if you want to sell early warning aircraft, maybe you can consider the French. They also want to buy them, but because the price remains high, the agreement has never been reached."

Yang Cheng was stunned for a moment, "France also wants an early warning aircraft? Why? Their aircraft carriers don't go to sea even once in several years."

"Maybe it is for future deployment on the Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier."

Yang Cheng nodded, "What's the price?"

"The current price offered by the United States is 2.2 billion, including three E2Ds and supporting after-sales services!"

Yang Cheng clicked his tongue, "Is it so expensive? If I go, Il Qiliu can't keep up."

"Yes, the unit price exceeds US$700 million, and the French can't bear it. Once the transaction is completed, it will definitely break the record."

"It's too expensive. How much is your purchase price?"

"Um~ The current purchase price of the E-2D 'Advanced Hawkeye' ship-based early warning aircraft used by the US Navy is only US$120 million."

Yang Cheng sighed and shook his head, "It's too profitable. It's too profitable. I have no friends at this price."

Damien laughed, "Why don't you have any friends? RB has just reached a purchase agreement for early warning aircraft. It is expected to purchase 9 aircraft and deliver them next year. The unit price is only US$340 million."

Yang Cheng nodded, "This price is barely acceptable. After all, it cannot be the same price as for personal use, but if the French agree to buy an early warning aircraft for 700 million, they will really be taken advantage of."

However, the Americans dare to charge this price, which also illustrates the superiority of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye carrier-based early warning aircraft. On the other hand, it is because this is the only fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft in the world so far.

The emperor's daughter has no worries about getting married.

Currently, an aircraft carrier in the U.S. aircraft carrier battle group will be equipped with at least one early warning aircraft squadron, that is, 4-5 fixed-wing early warning aircraft to provide vital air defense early warning assistance.

Although the number is very rare, the role it plays is very huge.

Due to the limitation of the curvature of the earth, no matter how advanced the performance of the ship-borne long-range air defense radar is, it is impossible to detect low-altitude flying targets at long distances. In the face of sea-skimming targets, the detection distance of the ship-based radar is often reduced to a few dozen kilometer.

Therefore, only carrier-based early warning aircraft that fly high can detect long-range low-altitude targets, and can also rely on their altitude advantage to provide long-range air defense early warning like a fleet's lighthouse.

Compared with early warning helicopters, fixed-wing early warning aircraft have much better airborne time, speed and electronic equipment performance. Therefore, the US aircraft carrier battle group now relies on E-2C or E-2D to form a carrier-based air early warning force.

The E-2 series early warning aircraft first appeared in the US military's early warning aircraft program in the late 1950s. The first E-2A early warning aircraft was delivered in January 1964, thus starting more than half a century of history of the E-2 series.

The original E-2A used the AN/APS-96 radar that could track 250 targets and guide 30 fighters to engage in combat. At that time, its radar detection range limit was 370 kilometers.

In conclusion, although such radar technology seems backward today, it can still be barely used as an early warning aircraft.

The improvement of the E-2 series focuses on the improvement of the body's electronic equipment. Today's E-2D "Advanced Hawkeye" has little difference in aerodynamic appearance, but its internal electronic equipment has long reached the world's top level.

Because it is a fixed-wing propeller aircraft, the E-2D is not very fast. The maximum speed is about 648 km/h, and the cruising speed is 474 km/h. Without aerial refueling, the airborne time is more than 7 hours. With aerial refueling, the E-2D is not very fast. The maximum time limit is 12 hours.

Usually, the U.S. military uses ship-based early warning aircraft to perform duties at an altitude of 30,000 feet (approximately 9,150 meters). This altitude can exert the performance of the early warning aircraft's radar equipment.

The radar of the E-2D "Advanced Hawkeye" early warning aircraft is the AN/APY-9 radar. This radar is a UHF band radar, that is, a low-frequency band radar, which can provide good results in detecting stealth aircraft.

At the same time, the AN/APY-9 radar adopts a combined detection mode of "electronic scanning + mechanical scanning", which can not only perform a comprehensive 360-degree scan, but also conduct focused searches in key directions.

It is generally believed that the AN/APY-9 interception radar emission surface used by E-2D has a target detection range of 3 to 5 square meters, which can reach more than 550km. At the same time, it can automatically suppress ground clutter and interference.

The APS-145 radar used as early as the E-2C era can track more than 2,000 targets and guide 40 batches of aircraft to engage in battle. It is conceivable that the E-2D's AN/APY-9 should be able to track more than 2,000 targets on this basis. It has been greatly improved, at least two generations more advanced. It can be imagined that the capabilities of its electronic equipment are extremely powerful.

In addition, the E-2D can be networked with other aircraft, warships, and sensor platforms through data links. The addition of this two-way voice and data communication system can greatly expand the U.S. military's over-the-horizon detection capabilities.

The research and development technology of carrier-based fixed-wing early warning aircraft is very difficult. The main problem is how to maintain the performance of electronic equipment when the size is limited, and also take into account the take-off, landing and use on the aircraft carrier.

Therefore, this is why the technical level of the E-2D is still ahead of the rest of the world. This early warning aircraft can theoretically conduct long-distance monitoring of maritime aircraft, cruise missiles and even ground vehicles. It is the E-2C and E-2D that constitute the US military aircraft carrier The key force of long-range air defense early warning.

Except for the United States, no country has independently developed and actually equipped fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft.

Only country Z is independently developing a fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft. The model of this early warning aircraft may be "Kongjing-600".

It is said that the size of the aircraft is relatively close to that of the E-2 early warning aircraft, with a take-off weight of about 25 to 30 tons. It uses two propeller engines, which should be turboprop-6C engines. It is equipped with a digital array active phased array radar, and the wings adopt an adjustable The rear retractable folding wing design increases the structural strength of the aircraft body, and the installation of complex four vertical fins is designed.

In the future, when the Kongjing-600 early warning aircraft is officially put into service, it will significantly improve the air defense early warning detection capabilities of the Z country aircraft carrier formation.

However, it seems that what Asan needs is a land-based early warning aircraft, and the E-2D is a bit overkill. After all, Asan's broken aircraft carrier does not need such an advanced toy.

Of course, rich Asan doesn't mind equipping it first, so that's another matter.

"Damien, there should be a land-based version of the E2 early warning aircraft, right? Ah San's aircraft carrier is still in the factory as a model exhibition, so the sea-based version is not used."

"E2D can fully undertake land-based early warning missions~"

Yang Cheng was speechless, "Sister, of course I know, but the price is too expensive, and Ah San is not that easy to fool, at least give them some thought, right?"

(Ah San must cheat! It’s not over yet...)

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