Development and trends of the air early warning system for aircraft carrier groups

Since the advent of early warning aircraft (AWAE) due to the demands of maritime air defense operations in the later stages of World War II, carrier-based AWAE aircraft have rapidly become a core node in the air combat system of aircraft carrier battle groups, proving their tactical value through numerous combat operations. After more than eighty years of development, driven by both operational needs and technological advancements, the technological level of carrier-based AWAE aircraft has achieved leapfrog development, and its functional positioning within the aircraft carrier combat system is undergoing significant changes. Facing the increasingly complex future maritime battlefield environment, the rapid emergence of new combat equipment, and the continuous updating of new tactics and methods, this paper, based on a review of the development history of carrier-based AWAE aircraft, deeply analyzes its platform characteristics and mission capability elements, and studies and analyzes the evolution of its combat styles and its key role in the kill chain. In response to new threat forms such as future hypersonic weapons and stealthy manned/unmanned collaborative combat platforms, this paper preliminarily assesses the key capability requirements of carrier-based AWAE aircraft and proposes several suggestions regarding the development direction and key technologies of future aircraft carrier battle group air early warning systems from the dimensions of aircraft platform performance optimization, collaborative use of unmanned systems, system integration, and innovation in combat modes.