By Levina

China’s Zhuhai Aerospace exhibition is buzzing with aircrafts and radar systems. The latest to be spotted is a radar system that can track F-22 & F-35 stealth fighters.

Pictures of it began flooding Weibo first, and from there it spread to other social media platforms.

Earlier this year there were reports about Chinese engineers have introduced a new radar system capable of detecting stealth aircraft like the American F-22 and F-35 fighters. Utilizing signals from the BeiDou satellite navigation system. China’s claim is that the radar represents a significant advancement in anti-stealth technology, combining cost-efficiency, mobility, and minimal risk of detection.

The core of this radar system is its passive detection capability, which fundamentally changes how stealth aircraft may be tracked. Traditional radar systems emit signals to detect objects, but this approach can reveal the radar’s location. In contrast, the new system by China relies on a simple receiving antenna to detect signal reflections from BeiDou, making it a “passive radar” that does not emit signals. This stealthy approach reduces the likelihood of the radar being detected, providing a tactical advantage during military operations, as per SCMP.

The system can switch to alternative satellite navigation constellations if BeiDou becomes unavailable, due to jamming or interference. It’s capable of operating with Russia’s GLONASS, increasing flexibility and robustness in hostile electronic environments. This adaptability in satellite frequency banks makes the radar system suitable for deployment in a range of geographic and strategic contexts.

China plans to pitch it to smaller nations!

Designed for ease of deployment, the radar system is both cost-effective and mobile, making it viable for use in smaller or resource-constrained nations. Unlike many conventional systems, it does not require extensive infrastructure, which allows for quick setup in various locations. This mobility, combined with low operational costs, means that countries with limited defense budgets may find it accessible, says an SCMP report.

China claims the introduction of such technology could shift the balance of power in regions where Western stealth aircraft currently operate with minimal resistance, including countries like Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon. In these areas, the deployment of the BeiDou radar could present a viable anti-stealth solution for countries previously unable to detect stealth aircraft, thereby enhancing their defense capabilities.

In practical applications, the radar technology has reportedly been tested using models of the U.S. F-22 Raptor, one of the most advanced stealth aircraft in the world. Published performance data in a recent issue of the Journal of National University of Defence Technology indicates that it could also be effective against other stealth models, such as the F-35, suggesting a broad applicability for tracking advanced stealth technologies.

These are tall claims to make! The effectiveness of the radar can be gauged only when an F-22 or an F-35 is actually detected on ground by the radar, which has not been named so far. Till then it is left to our sense of discernment to believe or ignore the Chinese claims.