Can China Now See the US Invisible Aircraft F-35 and F-22?
China's ‘Groundbreaking New Radar’ uses signals from the Chinese BeiDou Satellite System to detect F-22 and F-35 Stealth fighter jets.
Scientists at China's National University of Defence Technology (NUDT) claim that China's ‘Groundbreaking New Radar’ uses signals from the Chinese BeiDou Satellite System to detect F-22 and F-35 Stealth fighter jets ( Ref.: The Eurasian Times, October 30, 2024).
Chinese scientists have allegedly developed a new radar technology capable of tracking and detecting the US Air Force's F-22 Raptor, one of the world's most advanced stealth fighters.
Chinese media reported that this innovation uses signals from China's BeiDou navigation satellite system.
The new radar method is described as a cost-effective solution based on a simple receiving antenna. This means that the radar is also easy to deploy on terrain with a wide variety of structures.
Unlike conventional radars, this system does not emit signals, which significantly reduces the risk of disclosing its own position; this will also provide a significant advantage against air strikes aimed at finding and destroying ground systems.
Through the use of BeiDou signals, radars are able to detect refraction patterns caused by stealth aircraft. These patterns create echoes, allowing radars to estimate the type and location of the aircraft.
BeiDou, China's global navigation satellite system, has about twice as many satellites as the US GPS and provides strong global coverage.
Yes, this new radar will be cheap, portable and will not emit signals that could give away its location to electronic warfare assets. It will use the signals of the US GPS, Europe's Galileo and the Chinese BeiDou satellite systems, and will be able to use other satellite frequency banks, such as Russia's GLONASS, if their signals are blocked.
Chinese scientists describe the BeiDou system's signals as stable, continuous and precise, making it suitable for illuminating small or hard-to-detect targets. This feature is particularly useful in detecting stealth aircraft designed to minimise radar signatures.
However, Chinese scientists also recognise the difficulties of using these signals to detect stealth aircraft. Signals refracted by stealth aircraft are often weak by the time they reach the ground and can be further obscured by reflections from buildings, trees and other environmental objects, causing interference.
To overcome these complexities, current passive radar systems require complex dual-channel receiver structures that require a reference antenna pointed directly at a satellite. This traditional approach adds both cost and complexity to radar systems.
In contrast, the new radar system designed by Chinese scientists offers a new ‘blind detection’ method that works with a single receiving antenna. This feature eliminates the need for a reference signal, significantly reducing both hardware costs and track calculation requirements. This simplified structure also makes the system easier to deploy and more resistant to enemy jamming, increasing its reliability during combat.
If China's claims are true, this new radar technology will have a significant negative impact on the effectiveness of stealth fighter aircraft. 5th Generation air warfare concepts based on stealth aircraft will be rewritten.
