It comes after Egypt confirmed it was using the Chinese HQ-9B long-range surface-to-air missile system earlier this month.
An advanced radar aircraft, the KJ-500 has sophisticated electronic warfare systems and secure data link capabilities. Its radar dome provides 360-degree coverage and it can detect and track airborne and surface targets at an extended range.
Sun Degang, director of the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, said the KJ-500’s flight over the Red Sea marked “a significant step in China’s military modernisation” and showed how it could be used for strategic airlift operations and force projection.
“China now possesses not only near-seas defence capabilities but also the capacity to conduct long-range escort missions and consular protection operations,” Sun said, referring to the presence of the KJ-500 in a strategically sensitive area.
