At this year's Zhuhai Air Show, the 14th Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation held the "YLC-8E Mobile Stealth Target Detection Radar Launch Conference". This radar is the first to adopt the anti stealth design concept of "band+energy", achieving long-range early warning and detection of stealth aircraft, and can be regarded as the flagship product of China's anti stealth radar.

At the press conference, the world's first UHF band mobile anti stealth radar YLC-8E demonstrated its antenna setup. The large metal antenna array, folded several times, unfolded like a flowing stream in a short period of time, leaving the media and audience in awe.

On social media, the video of this type of radar unfolding has received a lot of attention, showing that "the domestically produced new anti stealth radar transforms in seconds, and the antenna array is as big as a badminton court", which looks really spectacular.

In fact, the YLC-8E radar antenna area is equivalent to the size of two badminton courtsSSPC aviation power distribution system

YLC-8E

YLC-8E is an improved version of YLC-8B, which made its debut at the 2016 Zhuhai Air Show. The radar's huge antenna, powerful detection capabilities, and excellent anti stealth capabilities made it an advanced domestically produced radar that received much attention at home and abroad in the following years.

Afterwards, CCTV introduced the YLC-8B anti stealth radar developed by the 14th Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation.

According to publicly available information, the maximum detection range of YLC-8B for stealth fighters such as F-22A and F-35 exceeds 250 kilometers. Therefore, military experts have stated that the emergence of China's YLC-8B anti stealth radar can completely make the F22 fighter jets near the first island chain nowhere to hide. Therefore, it is an indispensable core equipment for China to break the monopoly of the US military's stealth fighter jets.

One of the anti stealth methods is to use radar with special wavelengths, as the current stealth methods of stealth fighter jets mainly target centimeter waves. Therefore, the former Soviet Union has long developed the use of millimeter wave radar for anti stealth.

However, whether it is multi base radar, meter wave radar, or passive radar, although they can detect stealth fighter jets at a certain distance, it is difficult to accurately target them.

That is to say, these so-called anti stealth radars can only vaguely see stealth fighter jets, but cannot guide air defense missiles and anti-aircraft guns to shoot at stealth targets. Therefore, the anti stealth radar that China needs must undergo independent innovation.

YLC-8B

According to the photos of YLC-8B radar, its antenna array is particularly large, reaching 100 square meters. A large antenna array means that it has more electromagnetic signal transmitting and receiving units, thus its operating distance is greater. However, due to the foldable nature of the radar, its larger antenna array did not reach an unacceptable level and did not affect its tactical and strategic maneuverability.

More importantly, the YLC-8B radar uses decimeter waves instead of millimeter waves. It is said that decimeter wave radar inherits the characteristics of millimeter wave radar that will not be attenuated by stealth fighter jets' exterior design and absorbing coatings, as well as the advantage of centimeter wave radar that can accurately guide weapons to attack targets.

Shortly after the debut of YLC-8B, it was reported that this radar would be installed on the new generation of Type 055 and Type 052D destroyers, building a land-based and sea based anti stealth Great Wall.

While the YLC-8B is being discussed by the outside world, the 14th Institute of China Electronics Technology Group has already started to further improve and upgrade the YLC-8B, and YLC-8E is the latest improved model of YLC-8B.

Compared to YLC-8B, the biggest visual change of YLC-8E radar is its high equipment integration, fewer transportation units, and the use of single vehicle loading for antenna vehicles, which has strong passing ability and can quickly transfer positions; By adopting integrated technology of mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems, high-precision sensing equipment is integrated to achieve automatic installation and dismantling of antenna vehicles. Thanks to this, the overall maneuverability of YLC-8E has been qualitatively improved, with the ability to engage in full domain combat, as well as stronger survival and battlefield adaptability.

In recent years, China has developed rapidly in the field of anti stealth radar, and star products represented by JY-26, JY-27, and YLC-8B have been exhibited multiple times.

According to a public report by Chinese anti stealth radar expert Wu Jianqi, a certain tactical air defense anti stealth radar in China first discovered F22 in 2013, with a detection range of up to 450 kilometers.

In 2019, Venezuela imported three upgraded JY27 anti stealth radars, which were prominently displayed by the Venezuelan military. The JY-27 anti stealth radar has a detectable range of 500 kilometers and can complete screening and analysis of 128 targets within 10 seconds. It is one of China's more advanced high-frequency millimeter wave warning radars and can detect stealth fighter jets.

In mid-2020, the Venezuelan air defense forces successfully detected the US Air Force F-22 stealth fighter jet using the JY-27 long-range surveillance radar, issuing a warning and forcing it to leave Venezuelan airspace.

According to Venezuela, the US Air Force F-22 stealth fighter approached Venezuelan airspace in a "dangerous manner" at the time, but its movements were detected by the JY-27 long-range surveillance radar, forcing the F-22 to change its flight path.

JY-27

JY27 has been exported to several countries, including Syria where it has detected the activity of F-35 fighter jets multiple times. However, Syria's anti-aircraft missiles and fighter jets were unable to target them, resulting in interception failure.

Generally speaking, adding the English "E" after the name of Chinese weapons indicates the export model, such as the J-10 CE and YLC-8E, which are derived from YLC-8B. Does this also mean the export model? Since everyone has come to the Zhuhai Airshow, it should be sellable, right.

The question is, who can I sell such an advanced anti stealth radar to?

Just before the opening of the Zhuhai Airshow, on September 24th, according to the Algerian military website, Algeria ordered 24 Wing Loong 2 drones from China and purchased 6 1500 ton missile frigates upgraded from the 056A missile frigate. On September 23rd, an unknown quantity of China's YLC8B long-range anti stealth radar system was also received.

Some Chinese military enthusiasts suspect that Algeria bought YLC8B for someone.

In fact, there were rumors last year that Algeria wanted to buy the Su-57 because neighboring Morocco was lobbying the United States to sell the F35. The two countries had serious differences on the Western Sahara issue, and the "fifth generation aircraft race" was about to spread to North Africa.

Meanwhile, Algeria is also considering purchasing Russia's S-400, along with the YLC8B anti stealth radar. With the combination of these two weapons, the F35 will have nowhere to escape.

The story of Chinese radar detecting F22 sounds a bit mysterious, but of course, we can let F35 try it first so that the world can know whether YLC8B works or not.

Source: Military Black Technology