China has reportedly made a breakthrough in the development of radar systems capable of detecting and tracking stealth aircraft, specifically targeting the United States’ highly advanced F-22 “Raptor” and F-35 stealth fighters. According to a report from the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the research behind this cutting-edge radar system involves the use of China’s BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS) to enhance its detection capabilities. If the claims by the Chinese research team prove accurate, this innovation may have profound implications for global military dynamics, particularly in the realm of aerial warfare.
The F-22 Raptor, produced by Lockheed Martin, represents one of the most advanced pieces of aerial military technology in the world. A fifth-generation fighter, the F-22 incorporates stealth features designed to make it virtually invisible to conventional radar systems. Stealth technology reduces the radar cross-section (RCS) of an aircraft, making it difficult for radar systems to detect, track, or engage with the fighter.
Similarly, the F-35 Lightning II, another stealth fighter in the U.S. arsenal, utilizes advanced radar-absorbing materials, unique design elements, and electronic warfare capabilities to avoid detection. Together, the F-22 and F-35 form a critical component of U.S. air superiority, providing unmatched tactical advantages in combat scenarios.
For years, these stealth technologies have posed a significant challenge to adversaries, making them a primary target for nations seeking to develop countermeasures. However, if China’s new radar system can consistently detect and track these aircraft, it may erode the operational advantage that stealth fighters currently provide.
At the heart of the reported breakthrough is China’s BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS), a global satellite network designed to rival the United States’ Global Positioning System (GPS), Russia’s GLONASS, and Europe’s Galileo systems. Initially developed to ensure China’s independence in satellite navigation and positioning services, BeiDou has now found a novel application in the anti-stealth radar domain.
According to the SCMP, the Chinese research team incorporated BDS technology into the radar system to enhance its capability to track stealth aircraft like the F-22. The advantage of using the BeiDou system lies in its global coverage and precise timing signals, which can reportedly help detect the faint electromagnetic signatures left by stealth aircraft as they move through the air.
The radar system described by the Chinese team is notable for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Instead of relying on large, powerful transmitters that might expose its position, the system uses basic receiver antennas that passively detect signals. The team claims that this passive approach allows the radar to remain undetectable, as it does not emit any signals that could reveal its location.
This technology could potentially be deployed globally, offering countries an affordable way to detect stealth aircraft without revealing their own radar positions—a key tactical advantage in modern warfare.
One of the standout features of this new radar system is its ability to switch frequencies to other global navigation systems in case of disruptions to BeiDou signals. The researchers reportedly designed the radar to be capable of shifting between the GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo systems as backups. This flexibility ensures the radar’s uninterrupted operation, even in environments where satellite signals might be jammed or otherwise compromised.
The ability to adapt to different satellite systems could enhance the radar’s resilience in combat scenarios, where electronic warfare tactics are often used to disrupt communications and radar systems. This level of redundancy is essential for maintaining operational effectiveness in hostile environments.
If the Chinese claims about the new radar’s capabilities are valid, it could represent a paradigm shift in how militaries around the world approach air combat and surveillance. The ability to detect stealth aircraft would undermine the operational advantages that countries like the United States have relied on for decades. Stealth fighters like the F-22 and F-35 were designed to operate in environments where enemy radar systems cannot track them effectively, giving them the ability to strike targets without being seen or engaged by air defenses.
However, a radar system capable of detecting these aircraft would negate that advantage, allowing adversaries to track and target stealth fighters. This development could prompt a rethinking of air combat strategies, requiring nations to invest in counter-countermeasures, such as electronic warfare capabilities or next-generation stealth technologies designed to evade even the most advanced detection systems.
Moreover, the research team’s proposal to make this technology widely available to other nations could have far-reaching consequences. If countries around the world gain access to cost-effective anti-stealth radars, it could level the playing field in terms of air defense, reducing the dominance of stealth aircraft and shifting the global balance of military power.
This isn’t the first time China has made headlines with claims of anti-stealth radar technology. In 2023, China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), a state-owned defense company, announced the development of the YLC-8E, a radar system designed to detect stealth aircraft and drones.
According to CETC, the YLC-8E uses Ultra High Frequency (UHF) technology to identify aircraft, including stealth models, at ranges of up to 500 kilometers (around 310 miles). The system reportedly boasts a detection rate of up to 95 percent for stealth aircraft, making it one of the most advanced radars of its kind. In addition to aircraft detection, the YLC-8E is also capable of identifying missiles at ranges of up to 700 kilometers, making it a multi-role system with applications in air defense and missile detection.
The YLC-8E’s UHF technology is particularly well-suited to detecting stealth aircraft because it operates at wavelengths that can interact with stealth coatings and structures more effectively than conventional radar systems. Stealth technology is typically optimized to evade radars operating at higher frequencies, but UHF waves are longer and can “see” stealth aircraft more effectively by bouncing off larger parts of the aircraft, such as wings or tails.
Chinese media outlets, including the Global Times, which is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, have claimed that the YLC-8E is the world’s first radar system capable of reliably detecting stealth aircraft like the F-22 and F-35 from long distances. The system is also said to function as an early-warning radar and a counter-artillery radar, capable of tracking artillery shells in flight to locate enemy positions.
China’s advancements in anti-stealth radar technology are likely to raise concerns among Western military strategists, especially in the United States and its allies. Stealth technology has long been a cornerstone of U.S. air power, providing a decisive edge in conflicts from the Gulf War to more recent operations in Syria and Iraq.
If China’s radar systems prove effective in real-world scenarios, it could significantly impact the strategic calculations of the U.S. and its partners in Asia and beyond. The ability to track and engage stealth aircraft would reduce the effectiveness of U.S. airstrikes and reconnaissance missions, especially in contested regions like the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, where tensions between the U.S. and China continue to escalate.
Moreover, China’s willingness to share this technology with other nations could alter the dynamics of air combat globally. Countries that previously lacked the resources to develop their own anti-stealth radars may now be able to acquire these systems, reducing the dominance of stealth-capable air forces like those of the U.S., Israel, and NATO allies.
The U.S. and other Western powers may need to accelerate the development of countermeasures, such as advanced jamming systems, next-generation stealth coatings, or even entirely new types of aircraft designed to operate in environments where stealth is no longer an impenetrable defense.
China’s reported development of radar systems capable of detecting the F-22 Raptor and F-35 stealth fighters represents a significant milestone in the ongoing evolution of military technology. If the claims made by Chinese researchers and state-owned defense companies are accurate, these advancements could reshape the future of aerial warfare and challenge the dominance of stealth technology.
The integration of the BeiDou satellite system into radar technology, combined with the development of versatile, cost-effective radar systems like the YLC-8E, signals China’s growing capability in counter-stealth technology. The potential for these systems to be shared with other nations further complicates the strategic landscape, as more countries gain access to tools that can detect and track previously elusive stealth aircraft.
