The PLA Navy is operating at least two Y-8J airborne surveillance aircraft fitted with Racal Skymaster radar system. This is the first airborne early warning capability the PLA has acquired.
PLA海军目前至少操作两架Y-8J空中监视飞机安装使用Racal Skymaster雷达系统。这是PLA已经获得的第一个空中预警机（AEW）能力。

China purchased 6~8 Skymaster airborne surveillance radar systems from British electronics manufacturer Racal (now Thales) in the 1990s. These radar systems are fitted on the Shaanxi Y-8J turboprop aircraft for maritime surveillance and early warning missions. The PLA Navy is currently operating at least two Y-8J, which are deployed at Dachang naval air base near Shanghai.
中国在1990年从英国电子制造厂商Racal（现在泰利斯）公司购买了6~8套Skymaster空中监视雷达系统。这些雷达系统用于海上监视和预警任务安装在陕西Y-8J涡轮螺旋桨推进飞机上。PLA海军目前至少操作二架Y-8J，在上海附近的大场（Dachang）海军空军基地部署。

PROGRAMME
计划

The Racal Skymaster is the first modern airborne surveillance radar system purchased by the PLA. Building on its relation with the PLA through the 1980s sale of its Cymberline artillery radar, Racal sold 6~8 sets of its Skymaster radar systems to China for about US$66 million in the 1990s. First revealed in August 1996, this purchase came after a lengthy evaluation of contending airborne radar by the PLA. The smaller size of this radar and its attendant equipment make it very easy to be integrated onto China's Shaanxi Y-8 turboprop aircraft.
Racal Skymaster是第一种被PLA购买的现代化的空中监视雷达系统。通过它在1980年出售Cymberline火炮雷达建立和PLA的关系，在1990年Racal向中国出售了6~8套价值大约六千六百万美元的Skymaster雷达系统。在1996年8月首次显露，这次购买是在PLA长时间讨论评估机载雷达之后被提出。这一种雷达和它的附带设备较小尺寸非常容易整合到中国陕西Y-8涡轮螺旋桨推进飞机之上。

Although the Skymaster radar was sold under civilian name to assist China’s coastal anti-smuggling missions, by 2001 Internet-source image was appearing of the resulting Y-8J maritime surveillance aircraft operated by the PLA Navy to locate enemy targets for its Luda and Luhu class destroyers in naval exercises. At the aircraft’s normal cruising altitude, the Y-8J can have a 200-mile range, giving it a potential footprint 400 miles wide. The aircraft could also assist surface ships to locate enemy targets beyond the shipborne radar horizon, and vector offensive and defensive aircraft in combat.
虽然Skymaster雷达在民用名义之下出售协助中国海岸反走私任务，2001年英特网-来源图片初次透露结果是Y-8J监视飞机被PLA海军操作去定位敌方目标用于海军练习它的“旅大”（Luda）和“旅沪级”（Luhu Class）驱逐舰。在飞机正常的巡航高度，Y-8J能具有200英里的范围，给予它400英里宽的潜在覆盖区域。飞机也可以协助水面舰船超越舰载雷达水平线定位敌人的目标，在作战时引导攻击和防御飞机。

So far only two Y-8J/Skymaster planes (serial number 9281 and 9301) have been spotted in active service. They are stationed at Dachang naval air base near Shanghai to support the operations of the PLA Navy East Sea Fleet. They are reported to have been chasing the U.S. Navy's aircraft carrier combat groups in the East China Sea. 
到现在为止只有二架Y-8J/Skymaster飞机（序号9281和9301）已经在现役中被看见。它们在上海附近的大场（Dachang）海军空军基地部署支持PLA海军东海舰队操作。它们据传闻曾经在中国东海追逐美国海军航空母舰战斗群。

SKYMASTER RADAR
SKYMASTER雷达

The Skymaster radar is an improved variant of the Racal Searchwater radar, which is fitted to the RAF Nimrod MR.2 and Sea King AEW.2 for AEW roles. The radar system is designed to detect air and surface targets in the sea, and vector friendly aircraft and ships. Accommodated in the aircraft’s nose radome, the I-band pulse Doppler radar has a detection range of 85km (look-down mode) or 110km (look-up mode). With its 360 degree coverage, the system is capable of detecting objects as small as submarine periscope within its range.
Skymaster雷达是Racal Searchwater雷达的一个改进型号，装配在英国皇家空军“猎人”（Nimrod）MR.2和“海王”（Sea King）AEW.2用于空中预警（AEW）任务。雷达系统被设计去在海上发现空中和水面目标，引导友好的飞机和船只。在飞机的机鼻天线罩中安装I-波段脉冲多普勒雷达具有85公里（下视模式）或110公里（平视模式）的一个探测范围，连同它的360度覆盖，系统在范围内能够探测像潜艇潜望镜一样小的物体。

The radar system has two control stations, with one for detection and the other for interceptor guiding. The control stations are equipped with digital data processing, 40mm colour displays, and touch-screen controls. The system is capable of detecting enemy targets, identification of friend or foe (IFF), and coordinating intercepting routes.
雷达系统有二个控制站，一个用于探测和另一个用于拦截引导。控制站装备数字数据处理设备，40毫米彩色显示装置和触觉-荧屏控制。系统能够探测敌方目标，敌我识别（IFF）和协调拦截路线。

The system utilises the Thorn EMI 32-bit microprocessor and distributed processing structure. Radar, inertial (INS) navigation, and other avionics are connected by the MIL1553B databus. The whole system is powered by an 8kW generator. 
系统利用Thorn EMI 32-比特微处理机和分布式处理结构。雷达，惯性（INS）导航和其它的航空电子设备被MIL1553B数据链（databus）连接。整套系统由一台8kW发电机提供动力。

Y-8J

The Y-8J is based on the Shaanxi Y-8C turboprop transport aircraft, which itself is a copy of the Soviet/Russian An-12 Cub. The aircraft has high-mounted wings with four turboprop engines mounted under the wings' leading edges. The original glassed-in nose on the Y-8 is replaced by a large radome to accommodate the radar antenna on the Y-8J. The tail cargo door and loading ramp are removed on the Y-8J. Like the Y-8C, the Y-8J is also fitted with a pressured cabin for its flight and mission crews.
Y-8J以陕西Y-8C涡轮螺旋桨推进运输机为基础，它本身是苏联/俄国An-12“幼狐”（Cub）的一种仿造型。飞机采用上机翼和在机翼前沿上安装四台涡轮螺旋桨推进发动机。最初在Y-8机鼻的玻璃前端被一个大天线罩代替容纳在Y-8J上的雷达天线。在Y-8J上的后货舱门和装卸斜坡被移除。像Y-8C，Y-8J也为它的飞行和任务组员配备有一个加压舱。

POWERPLANT
动力装置

The aircraft is powered by four Zhuzhou Wojiang-6 turboprop engines mounted on the wings, each rated at 4,250shp. The aircraft carries 22,910kg fuel in its internal tanks, with no external fuel tank available. 
飞机动力被四台安装在机翼上的株洲涡浆（Zhuzhou Wojiang）-6涡轮螺旋桨推进发动机提供动力，每台额定在4,250shp。飞机在它的内部油箱携带22,910公斤燃料，同时没有外部油箱。

SPECIFICATIONS
规格

飞行组员： 3~4
翼展： 38.0 米
机长： 34.02 米
机高： 11.6 米
空重： 35,488 公斤
正常起飞重量： 54,000 公斤
最大起飞重量： 61,000 公斤
巡航速度： 550 公里/小时
最大速度： 662 公里/小时
实用升限： 10,400 米
最大爬升率： 10 米/秒（海平面）
航程： 转场航程 5,620 公里
飞行续飞时间： 10.5 小时
跑道： 起飞 1,270 米；降落 1,050 米

The Y-8J/Skymaster airborne surveillance aircraft are based at Dachang naval air base near Shanghai. They are reported to have been chasing the U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups operated in the East China Sea.
Y-8J/Skymaster空中监视飞机部署在上海大场（Dachang）附近的海军空军基地。它们据传闻在中国东海操作曾经追逐美国航空母舰战争群。

    附补充资料：《北海舰队预警机引导快艇对敌目标实施精确打击》来源：解放军报 网易军事2006-03-09转载

本报青岛3月8日电程远军报道：“舰向60度、舰速14节、目标方位×××……”昨天上午8时许，黄海某空域，北海舰队航空兵某团一架战机在复杂电磁条件下，成功地跟踪侦获“敌”水面目标运动要素，引导某快艇对“敌”目标实施精确打击。

随着高科技的广泛应用，一些目标极易与海面其它目标混淆，给空中侦察探测带来更大的困难。为提高战时情报侦获传输能力，他们根据飞行员的身体技术状况和特点，划分为作战层、训练层、保持层，采取基础课目与战术课目交叉训练，并重点突出锤炼复杂条件下战机跟踪监视、指挥引导的能力，与歼击机、强击机、水面舰艇进行联演联训。针对信息通道不畅等问题，他们加大对情报识别处理、舰机传输等课目的训练，先后组织11名技术人员到工厂、研究所等单位学习新技术，有效地解决信息传输技术等一系列难题。

为使训练贴近实战，他们还与某水面舰艇部队沟通协调，展开“远程目标指标”等高难课目训练，攻克了超低空对目标侦察等12个训练难题，有效地提高了部队 信息化作战能力。今年以来，该团已圆满地完成近10个场次的昼夜间侦察飞行，与舰艇合练数十个小时，信息传输准确率创新型战机装备部队以来的最好成绩。