The Pakistani Air Force (PAF) will induct the ZDK-03 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft from China to increase its air defence capability.

PAF Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said the PAF had plans to induct four Shaanxi ZDK-03 AEW&C aircraft into its inventory.

Suleman said the AEW&C has the capability to cover hundreds of miles compared with the ground-based radar system, which has serious limitations in terms of surveillance and detections.

The AEW&C can detect any object flying from the enemy side and enable the operator to take action to counter the threat in advance.

The delivery of the four Shaanxi ZDK-03 AEWC planes to the air force will begin in the first quarter of 2011, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.