You’ve seen the photos. A chunky, twin-propeller plane with a massive radar dish on its back, sitting on the deck of China’s newest aircraft carrier. At first glance, you might think it’s a vintage throwback or maybe a direct clone of the American E-2 Hawkeye. But honestly? The KJ-600 is probably the single most important piece of hardware the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has ever built.
Without it, a carrier is just a big target. With it, it’s a fortress.
Military geeks call this kind of plane an "Aerial Traffic Cop." Its real name is the KJ-600, and it is an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft. For decades, China’s carriers—the Liaoning and the Shandong—had a massive blind spot. Because they used ski-jumps instead of catapults, they couldn't launch heavy, radar-heavy planes like this. They had to rely on helicopters, which are slow, fly low, and can’t see very far.
That era ended in late 2025. When the Fujian (China’s first catapult-equipped carrier) started its sea trials, the KJ-600 was right there on the deck.
The "Nezha" in the Room: What is the KJ-600?
Chinese state media recently started calling this plane "Nezha." If you aren't familiar with Chinese mythology, Nezha is a deity with multiple arms and fire-tipped wheels. It’s a bit of a flowery nickname, but it actually describes the plane’s weird geometry. It has four vertical stabilizers on the tail and a six-bladed propeller system.
It looks busy. It looks complicated. And that's because it is.
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The KJ-600 is designed to fly high—we’re talking 15,000 meters—and stay there for a long time. While it's up there, that giant rotodome on its back is scanning the horizon for anything that moves. We’re talking stealth fighters, incoming cruise missiles, and even tiny surface ships that are hundreds of miles away.
Why the Catapult Matters
You can't just take a heavy plane like the KJ-600 and expect it to roll off a ramp. It’s too heavy. It’s loaded with fuel and massive radar electronics. This is why the Fujian’s Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) is such a big deal.
In September 2025, the world finally saw footage of the KJ-600 being shot off the Fujian's deck. It wasn't just a test flight; it was a proof of concept. China had finally mastered the "triad" of modern carrier aviation:
- The Muscle: The J-15T (the heavy hitter).
- The Assassin: The J-35 (the stealth fighter).
- The Brain: The KJ-600.
Without the brain, the muscle and the assassin are basically blind.
Is it just a copy of the American E-2D Hawkeye?
Let’s address the elephant in the room. If you put a photo of the KJ-600 next to a U.S. Navy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, you’d be forgiven for thinking they were twins. They share the same high-wing design, the same quad-tail, and the same tricycle landing gear.
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Western experts like Kris Osborn have pointed out that the "look" is undeniably similar. But "looking" the same and "being" the same are two different things.
The guts of the KJ-600 are purely Chinese. It uses the WJ-6C turboprop engines, which produce roughly 3,800 kW each. Is it as powerful as the American T56 engines? Probably not yet. But it’s enough. More importantly, the radar inside that dome is likely a Large Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA). Unlike older radars that "spin" to see, AESA radars use thousands of tiny modules to steer beams of energy electronically.
Basically, it can track way more targets, way more accurately, and is much harder to jam.
Breaking the Curvature of the Earth
The big problem with ship-based radar is that the Earth is round. If a cruise missile is flying just above the waves (sea-skimming), a destroyer’s radar can’t see it until it’s basically right on top of the ship.
By putting the radar on the KJ-600 at 30,000 feet, China effectively "sees over" the horizon. It gives the fleet an extra 20 or 30 minutes of warning. In a modern missile fight, 20 minutes is an eternity. It’s the difference between intercepting a threat and sinking.
Real-World Specs: What We Know (and What We Don't)
Because China is, well, China, they aren't exactly handing out brochures with the exact specs. However, based on sightings at the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation and recent trials, we can piece together a pretty clear picture.
- Crew: Likely 5 or 6 people (Pilot, Co-pilot, and a team of radar operators in the back).
- Speed: It tops out around 693 km/h. It’s not a racer; it’s a loiterer.
- Wingspan: 25 meters. The wings have to fold, or it would take up the whole deck.
- The Radar: Reported to be the KLC-7. Rumors suggest it can detect aerial targets up to 550 km away.
There’s also talk of a "COD" (Carrier Onboard Delivery) variant. Basically, a version of the KJ-600 without the radar dome used for hauling mail, spare parts, and VIPs to the carrier. If China builds that, they’ve officially duplicated the entire American carrier logistics model.
Why 2026 is the Year to Watch
Right now, we are seeing the transition from "prototype" to "operational." In early 2026, reports emerged of "green-primed" airframes—meaning they are fresh off the assembly line and getting ready for final paint and delivery.
China isn't just building one or two of these. To keep a carrier group protected 24/7, you need at least four to six KJ-600s per ship. That allows for a rotation: one on station, one heading back, one on the deck ready to go, and one in maintenance.
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The Strategic Shift
The presence of the KJ-600 changes the math for everyone in the Indo-Pacific. Before this, U.S. and allied pilots knew they had a massive "radar gap" they could exploit when facing Chinese carriers. That gap is closing.
When you pair the KJ-600 with the J-35 stealth fighter, you get a "look first, shoot first" capability. The KJ-600 finds the target and "paints" it with radar, then sends that data silently to the J-35. The J-35 never even has to turn its own radar on, making it almost impossible to detect until its missiles are already in the air.
Actionable Insights: What This Means for You
If you’re tracking global defense or just interested in how tech is shifting the balance of power, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the Fujian’s schedule: The moment the KJ-600 starts conducting night operations or integrated "battle management" drills with the J-35, it means the PLAN has reached full maturity.
- Look for the "Ski-Jump" testing: There is still a debate about whether the KJ-600 can take off from the older Liaoning or Shandong carriers without a catapult. If China manages to fly them off the older ships (likely with a lighter fuel load), their fleet power triples overnight.
- Monitor the Export Market: China often creates "E" (Export) versions of its tech. While a carrier-based radar plane is a niche market, a land-based version of the KJ-600 could be a massive hit for smaller countries that can't afford a full-sized AWACS.
The KJ-600 isn't just a plane. It is the piece of the puzzle that makes the rest of the Chinese Navy actually work. It’s the difference between a regional coast guard and a global blue-water power. Watch this space, because the "Nezha" is just getting started.