Airborne Early Warning Aircraft Proliferation Continues | 全球预警机机队继续扩大

Credit: Saab

直到2003年,全球预警机(AEW)机队还只有相对较小的规模。当时,全球机队只有不到200架飞机,由14个国家的空军在运营。

As recently as 2003, airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft were the preserve of a relatively small group of military operators. At that time the global fleet consisted of less than 200 of these highly specialized platforms, operated by just 14 air forces around the world.

但是,自那时以来,随着各加空军对这类飞机提供的空中态势感知的重要性认知越来越普遍,加上预警机的成本越来越低,预警机的用户也越来越多。

Since that time, however, the capability has proliferated more broadly as recognition of the valuable situational awareness these aircraft provide has become more widespread, and–crucially–affordability has improved.

据预测,全球预警机机队将从2021年的330架增加到2030年的373架。

As more air forces pursue the capability, the global fleet of AEW aircraft is expected to expand from 330 aircraft in 2021 to 373 by 2030.