Beijing, September 16, 2024 – The Central Military Television (CCTV) has made a groundbreaking revelation by showcasing the Airborne Early Warning-500 (AEW-500) encountering a missile attack and engaging in aerial combat for the first time. The video, broadcasted on September 16, offers a rare glimpse into the evolving nature of modern air combat.
The Shift in Air Combat Dynamics
As technology advances, the concept and execution of air combat are undergoing unprecedented changes. The core of aerial warfare has transitioned from the mere pursuit of air superiority to the comprehensive control of the entire battlefield space, including land, sea, electromagnetic, space, and even cyberspace. This multi-domain integrated warfare demands close coordination between air forces and other military branches to complete complex combat missions.
The AEW-500’s Critical Role
The AEW-500, as a command aircraft for airborne formations, plays a crucial role in air situation alert, command and control, electronic warfare and communication relay, multi-domain perception, and network-centric warfare. Its importance makes it a high-value target that is often targeted in air combat.
Quick Response to Missile Attack
When the AEW-500 faces an attack, the commanding officer will immediately lower the altitude, increase the interference power, and dispatch fighter jets to respond. This process has been captured for the first time through air-to-air filming.
The Role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
In the era of first detection, first destruction, the ability to detect an enemy first can determine the outcome of a battle. The AEW-500 acts as a wind ear, while the Unmanned Intelligence-7 (Unmanned Intelligence-7, or Unmanned Intelligence-7) serves as a thousand-mile eye.
The Unmanned Intelligence-7, an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft with high altitude and long range, can conduct rapid and extensive combat situation reconnaissance outside the formation’s defense zone using its various reconnaissance equipment. Its high altitude advantage ensures that it has a higher survival rate, lower battle damage ratio, and better cost-effectiveness compared to manned aircraft.
Intelligence Gathering and Analysis
The Unmanned Intelligence-7’s wide reconnaissance range allows it to gather a large amount of intelligence information. However, analyzing and confirming this information manually is inefficient and cannot keep up with the pace of the battlefield. Therefore, the ability to analyze intelligence is a critical factor in combat effectiveness.
Conclusion
The first public disclosure of the AEW-500’s engagement in aerial combat against a missile attack highlights the advancements in modern air combat technology and tactics. The integration of advanced technologies such as UAVs and improved intelligence analysis capabilities demonstrates the increasing complexity and sophistication of modern warfare. As technology continues to evolve, the battlefield will become even more dynamic and challenging for military forces around the world.
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