Key parts of China's AEW&C surveillance aircraft made locally

BEIJING: The radar platform and system for one of China's latest all-weather airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft that was displayed during last year's military parade were "made in China", a top official has said.

Xiong Qunli, board chairman of China Electronics Technology Group Corp ( CETC), said the radar platform and system of the aircraft were made locally.

The radar system, designed at the No 38 Research Institute of CETC, used the world's best digital array radar technology, according to state-run Xinhua news agency.

The KJ-500 was one of the aircraft that flew over Beijing's Tiananmen Square in last year's military parade, said Xiong, also a national lawmaker, during the annual parliamentary session yesterday.

CETC is engaged in electronics information technology for both military and civil industries.

"All major economic indicators of CETC are growing at double digits," Xiong said.