US ally needed American Hawkeye radar aircraft: tracks Chinese “stealth”

The Hawkeye and Advanced Hawkeye aircraft have a rotating radar dome attached to the top of the fuselage, providing long-range radar detection and air combat control.

Taiwan wants to buy radar planes from the United States, its security partner, to track the stealth fighters of its powerful neighbor China. This is reported by Newsweek.

Although the United States does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Washington is obligated under the Taiwan Relations Act to supply the island with defensive weapons. China has called the US legislation “illegal”.

Taiwan's Central News Agency, citing an informed source, said Taipei had requested six E-2D Advanced Hawkeye long-range radar-detection aircraft from Washington to replace its aging E-2K Hawkeye aircraft.

The Hawkeye and Advanced Hawkeye have a rotating radar dome attached to the upper fuselage, providing long-range radar detection and air combat control, as well as command and control functions, according to their primary operator, the US Navy.

Advanced Hawk

Northrop Grumman, the manufacturer of the Advanced Hawkeye, says that it can track over 3,000 air and ground targets simultaneously. It is equipped with Lockheed Martin's AN/APY-9 radar, which has a detection range of at least 300 nautical miles (556 km).

Stealth technology makes the aircraft less visible to radar, but a radar like the AN/APY-9 can detect small targets at considerable distances, making it a countermeasure to radar-evading aircraft. In particular, this is the Chinese J-20, as well as the recently announced J-20S and J-35A.

“China calls on the United States to immediately stop arming Taiwan and stop dangerous steps that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” — the Chinese Embassy in Washington told reporters.