The Taiwanese Air Force (ROCAF) intercepted a Shaanxi KJ-500H early warning and control aircraft of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) on Friday (22).
According to the Ministry of National Defense, the Chinese aircraft entered the southwest portion of the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The Ministry said that fighter jets were dispatched to accompany the plane, without detailing the model of the aircraft sent. Air-to-ground missile systems were also alerted and radio warnings issued.
On Thursday (21), two J-16 fighters and two J-11 fighters also entered Taiwan's ADIZ.
The KJ-500 is an in-flight control and alarm plane, popularly known as a "radar plane", based on the Shaanxi Y-9 turboprop, developed from the Y-8, the Chinese version of the Soviet Antonov An-12. . The aircraft has an Active Electronically Scanned Radar (AESA) mounted in a rotating dorsal dome, similar to the US E-3 Sentry. The model was also exported to Pakistan, which has four aircraft in service.
One PLA KJ-500 AEW&C entered #Taiwan's southwest ADIZ on October 22, 2021. Please check our official website for more information: https://t.co/ob1imAqk7P pic.twitter.com/aA5uDEp19u
- 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) October 22, 2021
4 PLA aircraft (J-16*2 and J-11*2) entered #Taiwan's southwest ADIZ on October 21, 2021. Please check our official website for more information: https://t.co/1EOoZKLIV7 pic.twitter.com/3PXaCW9A6c
ADVERTISING - 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) October 21, 2021
This is just one of several incursions that China has made in Taiwan's ADIZ. Between the 01st and 05th of October, 150 Chinese aircraft traveled through the region in a show of strength. Beijing views Taiwan as rebel territory and has repeatedly threatened the island, saying it would take Taiwan by force if full independence were attempted.
