| KLJ-7 | |
| Alt: | Pakistan airforce FC-1 Xiao Long |
| Introdate: | Mid-2000s |
| Type: | Airborne, multi-mode, pulse-doppler, fire-control radar (V-1) or active electronically scanned array radar (V-2) |
| Frequency: | X band |
| Range: | In look up mode 150 km for 5m2 RCS (V1)[1] In look down mode 100 km for 5m2 RCS (V1) 120 km for KLJ-7A. |
The KLJ-7, also referred to as the Type 1478, is an X band airborne fire-control radar (FCR) developed by Nanjing Research Institute of Electronic Technology (NRIET), also known as the China Electronics Technology Company's (CETC's) No. 14 Research Institute. In December 2010, Pakistan Air Force's Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman announced that KLJ-7 radar will be built at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), in Kamra, north of Islamabad.
The KLJ-7 uses a mechanically steered planar array antenna and bears similarities with the various Russian radars imported in the 1990s. Russian radar design houses Phazotron and NIIP had worked closely in the past with the Chinese radar design bureaus and provided technical assistance as well as operational models of Russian-made radar sets that were used as benchmarks in the process of these Chinese firms developing their own design. Up to 20 units of the Phazotron Zhemchoug ('Pearl) radar were imported in the mid-1990s for evaluation along with 2 units of Phazotron (NIIR) RP-35,[2]
The KLJ-7V1 has multiple modes, both beyond visual range (BVR) and close-in air-to-air modes, ground surveillance modes and a robust anti-jamming capability. The radar can reportedly manage up to 40 targets, monitor up to 10 of them in track-while-scan (TWS) mode and simultaneously fire on two BVR targets.[3]
A more powerful model, called the KLJ-7V2, has been produced.
During the 2016 Zhuhai Airshow, a new model called KLJ-7A was unveiled to the public. It might be used in JF-17 Block-3.
It has 2 Active electronically scanned array versions: one on a mechanically steered mount to increase field of view, another one with one frontal antenna and 2 lateral antenna arrays.[6]
Data from: Janes Defence[7]
According to a Pakistan Aeronautical Complex programme officer, after having "flown with this radar" as well as "other models... such as the Thales RC400" and evaluating them for the JF-17 lightweight fighter, it was found that "the Chinese radar is every bit as capable as its contemporary analogues."[3]
Data from: JF-17 official website