NEWTOWN, Conn. - The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has incorporated their first Chinese-made ZDK-03 Karakorum Eagle early warning aircraft (AWACS) into service.
An official commissioning ceremony was held at the Pakistan Air Force's Masroor Base, near Karachi, where the aircraft will be stationed.
A total of four Karakorum Eagles were ordered in 2008.
The ZDK-03 is a variant of the Shaanxi Y-8F600 turboprop transport aircraft and was developed specifically for Pakistan. According to the Pakistani military, the aircraft has a greater range than any of the PAF's other AEW&C aircraft. The ZDK-03 is equipped with a Chinese-made AEA radar and a sophisticated ESM system that can intercept and analyze signals from airborne and surface emitters.
The aircraft is powered by four Zhuzhou WoJiang-6 (WJ-6) turboprops, rated 3,170kW (4,250hp) each.