ZDK-03/Y-9 confusion?

[rickjoe]

Hey huitong, I'm wondering why you believe this photo is a ZDK-03?
cnair.top81.cn/gallery/GX-X.jpg

It looks to me like Y-9 instead? However there is an unpainted ZDK-03 that popped up in the last few days #733, is that the aircraft you are referring to?

Also, I'm still dubious about ZDK-03's radar -- do we have statements from PAF or BBSs it is not AESA (remember there is that article from flight global a year ago claiming it is active)? I feel if PLAAF is interested in ZDK-03 it makes no sense to downgrade from KJ-200 to a far less capable non AESA AEWC, which they will be stuck with for decades into the future. A rotating AESA could provide the 360 awareness of KJ-2000 while effective on the Y-8/9 platform.

[huitong]

If you look at the picture closely, you will notice a large dark fairing undernease its nose cone. Y-9 does not have or need this. Also it has small vertical stabilizing fins on both of the horizontal tail fins. This suggests the aircraft is supposed to carry some kind of large external antenna like ZDK03 and KJ200. Therefore this unknown variant is thought to be some kind of AWACS or EW aircraft. It is possible that PLAAF would acquire a domestic version of ZDK03 carrying a rotating AESA dish which will provide a true 360 degree coverage.