Chinese scientists have reportedly developed a new radar technology that can detect and track the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor, one of the world’s most advanced stealth fighter jets. This technological leap leverages signals from China’s BeiDou navigation satellite system, marking a potential game-changer in the realm of stealth aircraft detection, Chinese media reported.
The innovation, which promises to revolutionize radar detection, has been described as a cost-effective solution, utilizing a simple receiving antenna that can be easily deployed in various locations. What sets this system apart from traditional radars is its passive nature—it does not emit signals, which significantly reduces the risk of revealing its location during military operations. According to reports in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), this feature offers a critical advantage in modern warfare, where stealth and secrecy are paramount.
The breakthrough was detailed in a peer-reviewed paper published in the Journal of the National University of Defense Technology. In their research, Chinese scientists used the F-22 Raptor as a hypothetical target to demonstrate the radar’s capability. By analyzing signals from the BeiDou satellite system, the radar can detect stealth aircraft by recognizing unique refraction patterns caused by these planes. These patterns create distinctive echoes, allowing scientists to estimate the aircraft’s type and location.
China’s BeiDou system, comparable to the U.S. GPS, boasts nearly twice the number of satellites, offering comprehensive global coverage. The system’s signals are described by the researchers as stable, continuous, and highly precise—characteristics that are essential when tracking hard-to-detect objects like stealth fighters, which are engineered to minimize their radar signature.
While the technology holds immense potential, the researchers have acknowledged certain challenges, particularly in utilizing BeiDou signals for effective aircraft detection. The signals that are refracted by stealth aircraft are often weak by the time they reach the ground, and additional interference can arise from environmental factors such as buildings, trees, and other reflective surfaces. This signal degradation can make detection more difficult, a limitation that earlier passive radar systems struggled to overcome.
Traditional passive radar systems required a dual-channel receiving structure, which included a reference antenna that needed to be pointed directly at a satellite, adding complexity and cost to the system. However, the Chinese researchers have introduced a simplified “blind detection” method, relying on a single receiving antenna. This approach eliminates the need for a reference signal, reducing hardware costs, and simplifying the system’s deployment. By making the radar more resistant to enemy jamming and less computationally demanding, the researchers have produced a system that could be more reliable and effective in wartime scenarios.
If these claims are substantiated, this technological advancement could undermine the operational effectiveness of stealth fighters, such as the F-22, which rely heavily on their radar-evading capabilities. Known for its ability to avoid enemy detection and engage ground and air targets with minimal risk of counteraction, the F-22’s strategic advantage could be compromised by this new radar method.
The projected performance metrics of the new radar technology suggest that it could potentially detect other stealth aircraft, including the F-35, a cornerstone of the U.S. and its allies’ air fleets. According to Michigan-based defense analyst Peter Suciu, while stealth technology does not make an aircraft invisible to radar, it is designed to delay detection, thus giving a critical advantage in combat. However, even advanced stealth fighters like the F-22 and F-35 could be vulnerable under certain conditions, such as when carrying external fuel tanks or heavy ordnance, both of which increase the aircraft’s radar cross-section.
The breakthrough’s roots extend beyond China’s own research. The radar’s design reportedly builds on an algorithm developed in 1991 by Goran Zivanovic, a computer scientist from Belgrade. Zivanovic’s work focused on detecting hidden cyclic frequencies in electromagnetic signals, a method that has now found renewed application in the context of stealth detection. After publishing his findings, Zivanovic mysteriously disappeared from academia during the dissolution of Yugoslavia, and his contributions have since remained largely unknown in the West. However, in China, his algorithm has gained considerable recognition and is being used in radar, communication, and sonar technologies.
By enhancing Zivanovic’s algorithm, the Chinese research team claims to have successfully detected the distance, direction, and speed of stealth aircraft in simulation tests, despite the presence of radio noise. This not only validates the algorithm’s efficacy but also signals a potentially significant leap forward in China’s military capabilities.
The development of this new radar technology comes as part of China’s broader effort to advance its military capabilities, particularly in the face of challenges posed by stealth aircraft like the F-22 and F-35. These fighter jets are key components of the U.S. Air Force’s global power projection and are specifically designed to evade radar detection, giving the U.S. a significant advantage in both air-to-air combat and ground-target strikes.
China’s interest in countering stealth technology is not new. Back in 2016, Chinese state media claimed that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) successfully monitored U.S. F-22 Raptors flying over the East China Sea. Since then, Chinese researchers have made numerous claims about advancements in anti-stealth radar technology. Earlier this year, in April, a radar system purportedly capable of detecting stealth aircraft was announced, followed by claims in September that China could track stealth jets using signals from Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites. Additionally, the development of a radar system capable of detecting long-wave signals reflected by the ionosphere was another claim made by Chinese scientists in the same month.
Furthermore, China has invested in infrared search-and-track (IRST) systems, which are designed to detect the heat signatures of high-speed aircraft, another method of spotting stealth planes. In 2022, Chinese engineers reported the development of a compact IRST system capable of identifying aircraft from considerable distances, further enhancing the country’s ability to track and neutralize stealth threats.
The implications of China’s radar breakthroughs, if confirmed, could reshape the strategic landscape, particularly in sensitive areas such as the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, where the U.S. has deployed stealth fighters to deter Chinese military activities. Chinese military studies have consistently identified the F-22 and F-35 as significant threats, and improving anti-stealth capabilities has been a clear objective for Beijing.
However, despite China’s ambitious claims, independent verification of these advancements remains scarce. Many military experts remain skeptical about the practical effectiveness of such radar systems in real-world scenarios. As pointed out by analysts consulted by the EurAsian Times, it is one thing to develop a radar system theoretically capable of detecting stealth aircraft, but another entirely to prove that it works reliably in combat conditions. The presence of environmental noise, electronic countermeasures, and the inherent challenges of detecting low-signature aircraft in complex operational environments raise doubts about the system’s operational viability.
Critics also suggest that some of these claims could be exaggerated, serving as part of a broader narrative by Beijing to project technological superiority. With tensions between the U.S. and China already high over issues like trade, Taiwan, and military competition, such assertions could be intended to shift perceptions of China’s military prowess, whether or not the technology is fully functional.
The alleged development of a new radar technology capable of tracking the F-22 Raptor marks another chapter in China’s ongoing efforts to challenge U.S. military superiority. Utilizing signals from the BeiDou satellite system, this new radar system could represent a significant leap forward in the detection of stealth aircraft, which have traditionally been difficult to track.
While the technology’s full capabilities remain unverified, the mere possibility of such a breakthrough could have far-reaching implications for the future of air combat and military strategy. As China continues to make bold claims about its advancements, the international defense community will be watching closely to see if these innovations translate from theory to battlefield reality. Whether or not these technologies prove effective in combat scenarios, they certainly signal China’s growing ambition and determination to close the gap with the U.S. in the realm of cutting-edge military technology.
