At the 11th World Radar Expo held in Hefei, China has presented more than 100 advanced radar systems. The star of the show was the new JY-27V radar, which is being called a powerful “stealth killer.” This radar is designed to find and track stealth fighter jets like the U.S. F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.
The JY-27V was developed by the state-owned China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC). It is mounted on a military truck and can be set up in just 10 minutes. The radar uses low-frequency radio waves, a large antenna, and smart software to find aircraft that try to avoid detection by radar.
CETC described the JY-27V as a “master artist” in detecting stealth targets. Its design allows for fast movement and quiet operation, which makes it suitable for use in many different environments. According to Chinese state media, the JY-27V is a major improvement over the earlier JY-27A radar.
Xu Haizhou from CETC, spoke to Xinhua News Agency at the expo. “The larger the radar’s antenna, the greater its range and sensitivity to stealth targets,” he said. Xu also explained that the radar’s folding and unfolding system is smooth and quiet, making it more useful during real missions.
The JY-27V uses very high-frequency (VHF) waves in the meter-wave band. These waves are harder for stealth aircraft to hide from. Most stealth jets are built to avoid radar using shorter microwave wavelengths, but the longer meter-wave radar can still detect them. This is because the radar-absorbing materials used on stealth jets don’t work as well against longer wavelengths.
At the expo, CETC explained that the JY-27V includes three major improvements: it uses lower frequency waves, has a larger antenna, and features more intelligent algorithms. These upgrades make it better at detecting stealth planes, even from far away.
China had already claimed that its JY-27A and YLC-8B radars could detect stealth aircraft from over 250 kilometers away. The new JY-27V builds on this earlier work with better range and smarter technology. Radars work by sending out radio waves and waiting for them to bounce back from objects in the sky.
Stealth aircraft try to avoid this by using shapes and special coatings that reduce how much radar can bounce off them. But these techniques only work well against certain radar types. Long-wave radars like the JY-27V can still pick up stealth jets because their signals don’t reflect in the same way.
According to Global Times, “The JY-27V provides precise detection of stealth targets and can direct air defense units for targeted strikes.” This means the radar doesn’t just find planes, it can also help guide missiles or anti-air systems to hit them.
While the JY-27V was the highlight, China also showed other radar systems at the event. CETC introduced the YLC-8E radar, an upgraded version of the YLC-8B. This radar uses ultra-high-frequency (UHF) waves and a fully digital phased array system. It can give early warnings and track aircraft using both 2D scanning and directional movement. It is also known for its strong anti-jamming ability and easy maintenance.
Another radar on display was the SLC-7, a fourth-generation system that can detect and track multiple targets at once. It has a long-range and fast response time, which makes it useful in modern warfare where electronic jamming is common.
CETC also introduced the JY-11 radar, which uses the S-band and is made to detect low-flying drones. It is described as a “world-class counter-drone product.” Along with that, the YLC-12 radar, using the C-band, is built to track slow and low-altitude targets like cruise missiles and small planes.
The JYL-1 was also shown. It is a long-range, three-dimensional surveillance radar that can work without people present. It’s designed for tough places like deserts, mountains, and islands.
