In recent years, the military technology competition between China and the United States has intensified, especially in the contest between stealth fighters and anti-stealth technology.
Stealth fighters such as the United States' F-22 Raptor fighter jets, with their advanced stealth technology, have been able to move freely around the world for many years. However, with the rapid rise of China's technological prowess, this situation may change.
According to the South China Morning Post, a well-known international media outlet in Hong Kong, the latest research shows that Chinese scientists are developing a breakthrough radar system that uses China's Beidou navigation satellite to effectively detect and track stealth fighters. This seemingly simple system may break the monopoly of stealth fighter "stealth" technology.
According to research published in the journal of the National University of Defense Technology, the radar system uses signals emitted by Beidou satellites to operate with a simple receiving antenna, is inexpensive and can be deployed around the world.
Unlike traditional radars, this radar does not need to transmit signals, so its "stealth" performance is also greatly improved, and it is not easy to expose the location.
China's Beidou and radar join forces
China's Beidou navigation system is now available all over the world, with almost twice as many GPS.
When the Beidou signal encounters a stealth aircraft, it is refracted and produces a unique echo. By analyzing these faint echoes, the researchers were able to infer the type and location of the target with some accuracy. This means that this radar system can be used not only to detect United States F-22 Raptor fighters, but also to identify other stealth fighters, such as the F-35.
While a large number of anti-stealth radars have been deployed along China's coasts and ships, these systems are often only affordable by a few large countries due to their technical complexity and high cost. However, this new type of Beidou radar is very likely to greatly lower the threshold of anti-stealth technology, so that more countries have the ability to deal with stealth fighters.
The research team said that even in the case of Beidou interference, the radar can still continue to work by switching frequency bands using GPS, Europe's Galileo system or Russia's GLONASS system to ensure the continuous operation of the system. This means that the system can be used more flexibly on a global scale without losing functionality due to the failure of a single satellite system.
The "blind detection" method developed by a Chinese researcher and his research team is to detect stealth targets through a single-channel system, eliminating the need for a complex reference antenna system. This design not only greatly reduces the hardware cost of the radar, but also makes its structure simpler and more suitable for wartime deployment and enemy interference.
Behind this radar breakthrough is a unique algorithm. Back in 1991, Yugoslav computer scientist Goran · Zvanovic invented a method for detecting hidden periodic frequencies in electromagnetic signals.
Although he and his research are gradually forgotten in the Western scientific community, this algorithm has been fully applied in China and improved by Chinese scientists to be applied to the field of anti-stealth technology.
With United States' stealth fighters frequently appearing in Syria, Yemen and other places, and these regions are difficult to have anti-stealth capabilities, the emergence of Beidou radar may break this situation. Let these countries also have the means to deal with stealth fighters.
The far-reaching impact of new breakthroughs
The breakthrough of Beidou radar is not only a technological innovation, but also an important step for China in the global military science and technology landscape.
As the military competition between China and the United States in the Asia-Pacific region intensifies, anti-stealth technology will become one of the key factors in future military conflicts.
United States has always had a technological advantage in military operations with its stealth fighters, such as the F-22 and F-35, which are almost impossible to detect by conventional radar, giving the U.S. military the ability to "strike first."
However, with the advent of the Beidou radar, China is not only expected to make up for this shortcoming, but may even surpass United States in some aspects. Compared with traditional radar, this new radar is not only low cost and simple in structure, but also better able to cope with interference in various complex environments.
This means that China and its allies can deploy anti-stealth systems more flexibly, especially in vast coastal areas and at sea, which will significantly improve China's air defense and countermeasure capabilities.
More importantly, this technological breakthrough is not limited to the detection of F-22 or F-35 fighter jets.
Theoretically, Beidou radar can be applied to the detection of almost all stealth targets, covering stealth drones, stealth bombers and even submarines. This provides a stronger guarantee for China's comprehensive air defense system, breaking the long-standing hegemony of stealth fighters in United States.
In addition, this breakthrough is of great strategic importance. In today's global context, especially in the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region, United States stealth fighters frequently appear in hot spots of conflict.
Whether it's Syria, Yemen, or disputed areas in the South China Sea, United States' stealth warplanes add great uncertainty to the situation on the ground. The widespread use of Beidou radar will allow China and its allies to respond more calmly to this stealth threat and weaken United States' military deterrence in these regions.
On the other hand, the spread of this technology could also change the landscape of the global arms market. For a long time, only a handful of large countries could afford expensive anti-stealth radar systems, while most small countries had no anti-stealth capabilities at all.
With the gradual maturity of Beidou radar technology, this situation will change. As the research team said, the low-cost and easy-to-deploy characteristics of this radar system make it possible for many small and medium-sized countries to improve their air defense capabilities by introducing Beidou radar, breaking the current situation of Western stealth fighters "doing whatever they want".
It is worth noting that the Beidou radar is not China's only breakthrough in the field of anti-stealth technology.
In addition to using Beidou signals for detection, Chinese scientists are also working on other means, such as locating stealth targets by reflecting long-wave signals, using radiation from Starlink satellites, and even electromagnetic waves emitted by radars from United States military bases. The coordinated development of these technologies shows that China is comprehensively improving its ability to detect stealth targets, so as to occupy an advantageous position in future wars.
Although the practical application of Beidou radar needs further testing and verification, the strategic significance behind it should not be underestimated.
For China, this is not only a technological breakthrough, but also an important part of the future military strategic layout. The wide application of Beidou radar will further enhance China's air defense capability and provide a solid guarantee for safeguarding national interests.
A little summary
The breakthrough of Beidou radar technology marks that China has made important progress in the field of anti-stealth technology.
By using the Beidou satellite signal, this system not only has the ability to deploy globally, but also breaks the long-term technical advantage of Western stealth fighters with its low-cost and high-efficiency characteristics.
Whether in domestic air defense or in global military operations, Beidou radar has shown broad application prospects.
In the context of United States' frequent adjustment of its Asia-Pacific strategy and increased military presence, the emergence of Beidou radar not only responds to United States' challenges in the field of stealth technology, but also provides an effective countermeasure for China and its allies.
This technological breakthrough not only boosts China's military capabilities, but could also trigger a revolution in anti-stealth technology on a global scale.
In the future, with the continuous improvement of the Beidou radar system, we may see more countries adopt this technology, which will completely change the current military landscape.
The development of this technology will undoubtedly play an even more important role in future military conflicts.
As the research team said, Beidou radar is not only a simple scientific and technological advancement, it will become an important tool for China to safeguard national security and defend territorial sovereignty.
This is not only another take-off of China's military science and technology, but also a reshuffle of the global military science and technology pattern.