The Y-8 airborne radar testbed was developed from a Shaanxi Y-8C turboprop transport plane with its original ‘glass-in’ nose replaced by a radar test module.
Y-8空中雷达测试平台从一架陕西Y-8C涡轮螺旋桨推进运输机发展同时它的最初玻璃整流罩机鼻被一个雷达测试模块代替。

A single Shaanxi Y-8C turboprop transport planes (serial number 079) was converted into an airborne testbed to test various radar and avionics equipment. The plane, know as ‘Radar Electronic Testbed Aircraft’, is currently being operated by China Flight Test Establishment (CFTE) based at Yanliang, Shaanxi Province. The No.079 testbed has played important roles in the development of fire-control radar systems for China’s new generation combat aircraft including the J-10, J-11, and JH-7.
 一种单独的陕西Y-8C涡轮螺旋桨推进运输机（序号079）被修改成空中测试平台去测试各种不同的雷达和航空电子设备。飞机，被称为‘雷达电子测试平台飞机’，现在由建立在陕西省阎良（Yanliang）的中国试飞院（CFTE）操作。No.079测试平台已经为包括J-10、J-11和JH-7的中国新一代战斗机在火控雷达系统的发展中扮演重要的角色。

The No.079 “Radar Electronic Testbed Aircraft” was introduced in August 1999 for the flight test of fighter fire-control radar and avionic equipment. The aircraft was converted from a Shaanxi Y-8C turboprop transport plane, with its original ‘glass-in’ nose removed and replaced by the a test module accommodating the radar antenna and test equipment. The test module of the aircraft is replaceable and mimics the shape of the nose section of the fighter on which the radar system being tested will be integrated. The testbed also has its rear ramp removed and has a fully pressurised cabin.
No.079“雷达电子测试平台飞机”在1999年8月用于战斗机火控雷达和航空电子设备的测试飞行被引进。飞机由一架陕西Y-8C涡轮螺旋桨推进运输机修改，同时它的最初的玻璃整流罩机鼻被一个测试模块容纳雷达天线和测试设备代替。飞机的测试模块可替换和仿真在战斗机上的雷达系统的机鼻截面外形，测试平台是完整的。测试平台也移除了后斜板而且有一个完全增压机舱。

The Y-8 No.079 radar testbed was involved in a number of important fighter dvelopment programme, including the J-10, J-11 and JH-7.
Y-8测试平台的测试模块可替换和仿真在战斗机上的雷达系统的机鼻截面外形。目前在No.079测试平台上的机鼻雷达测试模块相同于J-11（Su-27“侧卫”）战斗机的机鼻。

Using the flying testbed for radar and avionics testing could help greatly reducing the development period and costs. Instead of using the highly valuable fighter prototype for radar and avionics testing, the avionics is being tested on the flying testbed, which can be conducted in parallel with the fighter’s flight test programme. The same approach has also been used in the development of the U.S. F-22 Raptor fighter, where its avionics were tested on a modified Boeing 757 jet while the fighter was still under development.
使用飞行测试平台用于雷达和航空电子设备测试可以帮助极大的减少发展周期和成本。代替使用高价值的战斗机原型用于雷达和航空电子测试，航空电子设备在飞行测试平台上测试，能和战斗机飞行测试计划平行实施。相同的方式也已经被用于美国发展的F-22“猛禽”战斗机，它的航空电子设备在一架被修改的波音757喷气式飞机上测试同时战斗机仍然是在发展下。

 It is not clear whether the No.079 testbed carries a simulated fighter cockpit like the Boeing 757 testbed used in the F-22 radar testing, but the Chinese testbed is believed to be carrying various sensors and test equipment, as well as a dedicated cabin serving as a flying laboratory for the test engineers. The aircraft was involved in the development and testing of fire-control radar systems for a number of fighter projects including the J-10, J-11 and JH-7.
它不是清楚是否No.079测试平台携带一个仿真战斗机座舱像被用于F-22雷达在波音757测试平台测试一样，但是中国的测试平台据信携带各种不同的传感器和测试设备，还有一个专用舱被当做一个飞行实验室用于测试发动机。飞机涉及发展和测试火控雷达系统用于许多战斗机计划包括J-10、J-11和JH-7。

The Y-8 No.079 radar testbed was involved in a number of important fighter dvelopment programme, including the J-10, J-11 and JH-7.
No.079的Y-8雷达测试平台涉及许多的重要战斗机发展计划，包括J-10、J-11和JH-7。

A photo showing the No.079 Y-8 testbed in its early years with a different shape nose radar test module.
一张相片显示在几年前No.079的Y-8测试平台使用一个不同形状的机鼻雷达测试模块。

SPECIFICATIONS
规格

飞行组员： 5 名
尺寸： 翼展 38.0 米；长度 34.02 米；高度 11.6 米
重量： 空重 35,488 公斤；正常起飞 54,000 公斤；最大起飞 61,000 公斤
速度：巡航 550 公里/小时；最大速度 662 公里/小时
实用升限： 10,400 米
航程： 转场航程 5,620 公里
飞行续航能力： 10.5 小时
跑道： 起飞 1,270 米；降落 1,050 米