2006 People's Liberation Army Air Force KJ-200 crash
Encyclopedia
On June 3, 2006, a Chinese
People's Liberation Army Air Force
KJ-200
crashed in Guangde County
in the Anhui
province in the People's Republic of China
. All 40 people on board were killed. Because of the number of fatalities, early news reports published right after the crash erroneously speculated that the accident involved the larger KJ-2000. However, the exact model of the AEWAC aircraft remains unknown due to lack of information. Although official Chinese media acknowledged that the platform was a Shaanxi Y-8
, no further detail was revealed. Many Chinese internet sources have claimed that instead of a KJ-200, the crash involved a Y-8 AWACS which has similar configuration to a KJ-2000.
. The exact model of aircraft involved was never officially identified, although it is believed to have been a KJ-200
. The aircraft had been developed in 2002, and have been undergoing extensive tests since then.
The plane was carrying thirty-five electronics and avionics technicians, as well as five crewmembers. It is believed by aviation experts that the large number of people on board the aircraft indicated that some form of test was being conducted. Carrying such a large number of people prevented the plane from transmitting real time
data back to the ground, which could be compromised by foreign intelligence services.
announced of the investigation result on September 7, 2006.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
People's Liberation Army Air Force
People's Liberation Army Air Force
The People's Liberation Army Air Force is the aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army, the military of the People's Republic of China...
KJ-200
KJ-200
KJ-200, or 'Y-8 Balance Beam' system, is an AEW&C program developed by Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation. The key component of this aircraft is a brand new airborne radar system, visually similar to the Ericsson Erieye AESA system, as well as ventral radar domes. The platform of this aircraft is based...
crashed in Guangde County
Guangde County
Guangde County is a county in Anhui Province, People's Republic of China under the jurisdiction of Xuancheng City. The county has a population of 510,000 and an area of...
in the Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
province in the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. All 40 people on board were killed. Because of the number of fatalities, early news reports published right after the crash erroneously speculated that the accident involved the larger KJ-2000. However, the exact model of the AEWAC aircraft remains unknown due to lack of information. Although official Chinese media acknowledged that the platform was a Shaanxi Y-8
Shaanxi Y-8
The Shaanxi Y-8 or Yunshuji-8 aircraft is a medium size medium range transport aircraft produced by Shaanxi Aircraft Company in China, based on the Soviet Antonov An-12. It has become one of China's most popular military and civilian transport/cargo aircraft, with many variants produced and exported...
, no further detail was revealed. Many Chinese internet sources have claimed that instead of a KJ-200, the crash involved a Y-8 AWACS which has similar configuration to a KJ-2000.
Background
The aircraft involved was a PRC-produced Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) plane, one of four that were part of the PRC's efforts to expand its air defencesAir force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
. The exact model of aircraft involved was never officially identified, although it is believed to have been a KJ-200
KJ-200
KJ-200, or 'Y-8 Balance Beam' system, is an AEW&C program developed by Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation. The key component of this aircraft is a brand new airborne radar system, visually similar to the Ericsson Erieye AESA system, as well as ventral radar domes. The platform of this aircraft is based...
. The aircraft had been developed in 2002, and have been undergoing extensive tests since then.
The plane was carrying thirty-five electronics and avionics technicians, as well as five crewmembers. It is believed by aviation experts that the large number of people on board the aircraft indicated that some form of test was being conducted. Carrying such a large number of people prevented the plane from transmitting real time
Real-time computing
In computer science, real-time computing , or reactive computing, is the study of hardware and software systems that are subject to a "real-time constraint"— e.g. operational deadlines from event to system response. Real-time programs must guarantee response within strict time constraints...
data back to the ground, which could be compromised by foreign intelligence services.
Crash
The aircraft flew into a hillside, killing all on board. It was one of the worst disasters in the history of the Chinese air force.Investigation
The official PRC government explanation was that the accident was due to heavy ice formation on the wings after the aircraft made repeated passes in and out of clouds in bad weather. As a result, the Central Military Committee of the Communist Party of ChinaCommunist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
announced of the investigation result on September 7, 2006.
Aftermath
In the same announcement as the declaration of the investigation result, it was declared that nearly a dozen high ranking military officers were punished by either being demoted/removed from their posts or censured, including:- Jiang Jianzen (江建曾), the deputy commander-in-chief of the NanjingNanjing' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
military region and the commander-in-chief of the air force of NanjingNanjing' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
military region, was censured. - Wang Wei (王伟), the deputy commissarCommissarCommissar is the English transliteration of an official title used in Russia from the time of Peter the Great.The title was used during the Provisional Government for regional heads of administration, but it is mostly associated with a number of Cheka and military functions in Bolshevik and Soviet...
of the NanjingNanjing' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
military region and the commissar of the air force of NanjingNanjing' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
military region, was censured. - Yue Liuan (岳留安) deputy minister of equipment of the air forcePeople's Liberation Army Air ForceThe People's Liberation Army Air Force is the aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army, the military of the People's Republic of China...
was censured. - Guo Chunguang (郭春广), the deputy chief-of-staff the air force of NanjingNanjing' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
military region was demoted. - Zhang Guangjian (张广建) a regimental commander of the air force of NanjingNanjing' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
military region was removed from his post. - At least an additional half a dozen military officers were also punished.
See also
- People's Liberation Army Air ForcePeople's Liberation Army Air ForceThe People's Liberation Army Air Force is the aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army, the military of the People's Republic of China...