China unveiled more than 100 cutting-edge radar systems at the 11th World Radar Expo in Hefei, spotlighting a new generation of anti-stealth radars designed to detect and potentially neutralize advanced stealth aircraft like the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.
The star of the show was the JY-27V meter-wave radar, a mobile system touted by its state-run developers as a “master artist” in tracking stealth aircraft. Developed by the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), the JY-27V is an upgraded, truck-mounted evolution of its predecessor, the JY-27A, and leverages long-wave radar technology to counteract stealth tactics employed by modern fifth-generation fighter jets.
According to Chinese media reports, particularly the state-run Global Times, the JY-27V integrates three core advancements: low-frequency operation, a high-power aperture, and AI-driven algorithms. These components enable it to overcome one of the major selling points of Western stealth aircraft—their supposed invisibility to radar.
“The JY-27V provides precise detection of stealth targets and can direct air defense units for targeted strikes,” reported the Global Times, citing unnamed military analysts.
What sets the JY-27V apart is its use of very high-frequency (VHF) waves, which operate in the meter-wave spectrum (30-300 MHz). These longer wavelengths are less affected by the radar-absorbing materials and angular designs that stealth aircraft rely on. Conventional radars, which use shorter microwave wavelengths, struggle to detect aircraft like the F-22 and F-35 because these planes are optimized to reflect or absorb those shorter waves.
Stealth technology aims to reduce an aircraft’s radar cross-section (RCS), primarily by two methods: shaping the aircraft to deflect radar waves and coating it with radar-absorbing material (RAM). Both methods are effective primarily against short-wavelength radar waves, which is why stealth aircraft often evade conventional detection.
However, meter-wave radars like the JY-27V offer a counter. Their longer wavelengths require thicker, more complex RAM to be effective—a challenge not yet fully solved by aircraft designers. The JY-27V exploits this vulnerability, using its large phased-array antenna to detect and track targets that would be nearly invisible to standard systems.
CETC scientists, including Xu Haizhou, emphasized the system’s operational efficiency and mobility. The JY-27V can be rapidly deployed or retracted in under 10 minutes, thanks to an automatic folding antenna array. This makes the radar not only powerful but also adaptable to different battlefield environments.
China first drew attention in 2016 when it claimed that earlier meter-wave radars, like the JY-27A and the YLC-8B, could detect stealth fighters at ranges exceeding 250 kilometers (about 155 miles). The JY-27V builds on those foundations with:
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A larger antenna diameter, enabling extended detection ranges;
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Lower operational frequencies, which better penetrate RAM coatings;
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Enhanced signal processing through intelligent algorithms for filtering out noise and boosting target clarity.
“The larger the radar’s antenna, the greater its range and sensitivity to stealth targets,” Xu told Xinhua News Agency.
Anti-Stealth Arsenal
The radar expo also featured a suite of complementary technologies:
YLC-8E Radar
An upgrade to the YLC-8B, this ultra-high-frequency (UHF) radar offers three-coordinate tracking and early warning detection. With a fully digital phased-array system, the YLC-8E supports 2D phased scanning and directional mechanical scanning, critical for detecting fast-moving aerial targets.
SLC-7 Radar
This fourth-generation intelligence radar delivers long-range surveillance with multi-target tracking. It boasts high reliability and adaptive anti-jamming functions—important features in electronic warfare scenarios where radar interference is common.
JY-11 and YLC-12
CETC also showcased the JY-11, an S-band three-face low-altitude surveillance radar optimized for drone detection, and the YLC-12, a C-band radar designed for tracking low-flying, slow, and agile targets. These radars signal a growing emphasis on multi-spectrum detection capabilities, addressing emerging threats from UAVs and cruise missiles.
JYL-1 Radar
A long-range, three-dimensional surveillance radar, the JYL-1 is engineered for unattended operation in extreme environments, such as high plateaus, deserts, and offshore islands. It offers durable, resilient performance—hallmarks of China’s expanding remote surveillance network.
The unveiling of the JY-27V and its sister systems comes at a time of increasing military tension in the Asia-Pacific region. China’s ability to detect stealth aircraft fundamentally challenges the strategic air dominance held by the United States and its allies. Stealth technology has long been a cornerstone of U.S. power projection, enabling deep-penetration strikes and reconnaissance without early detection.
If China’s claims prove accurate, the deployment of advanced anti-stealth radar could upend existing air power dynamics in hotspots like the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. U.S. aircraft would face a greater risk of detection and engagement, forcing a reevaluation of operational tactics and survivability in contested zones.
“The JY-27V essentially puts a big dent in the U.S. strategy of using stealth for deep incursions,” said an unnamed Chinese military commentator. “It doesn’t make stealth obsolete, but it definitely complicates the game.”
Despite the impressive specs, independent verification of the JY-27V’s real-world performance remains elusive. Radar detection is influenced by a host of variables: weather, terrain, target flight profile, and electronic countermeasures. U.S. and allied military experts often approach Chinese state claims with caution, noting a pattern of overstatement in past demonstrations.
However, multiple open-source military analysts and think tanks have acknowledged China’s progress in radar technology, particularly in long-wavelength surveillance. Even partial detection capabilities against stealth targets would represent a significant tactical advantage.
Radar technology has long been an area of catch-up for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). But events like the World Radar Expo suggest China is closing that gap fast—and possibly leading in certain specialized segments.
CETC’s growing catalog of integrated, digital, and mobile radar systems indicates a broader shift towards networked air defense, in which multiple radar types—VHF, UHF, S-band, and C-band—work in concert to form a layered defense web. Such integration increases detection probability and complicates enemy countermeasures.
The expo also reinforces CETC’s role as a cornerstone of China’s military-industrial complex, combining state funding, academic research, and operational feedback into a rapid innovation pipeline.
China’s unveiling of the JY-27V and other advanced radar systems marks more than just a technological milestone—it is a strategic signal. As great power competition intensifies in the Indo-Pacific, Beijing is showcasing its readiness to confront and counter one of America’s most prized military advantages: stealth.
