At the China Airshow, the spotlight is on China’s anti-stealth radar system, known as the “Twin Stars,” which includes the YLC-8E high-mobility anti-stealth air defense radar and the YLC-2E S-band long-range multifunctional radar. With the increasing prevalence of stealth aircraft in modern warfare, many nations are prioritizing anti-stealth capabilities in their defense strategies.
A Shift in Modern Warfare
Modern warfare has evolved significantly with the advent of stealth aircraft, which have drastically reduced the effective detection range of traditional radars. This enables stealth planes to operate with more freedom in combat zones, presenting serious challenges to existing air defense systems. As the “eyes” of the battlefield, radars are crucial in counteracting this threat, occupying a central role in anti-stealth operations.
Traditionally, the primary response to stealth threats has been through frequency detection using long-wave radar, known as meter-wave radar, which is capable of “diffracting” around the shape of stealth aircraft due to its longer wavelength. This method has proven effective in practice.
YLC-8E: Elevating Meter-Wave Radar Capabilities
The YLC-8E is an upgraded model of the YLC-8B and is regarded as China’s flagship anti-stealth radar. It retains the inherent advantages of low-frequency radar while overcoming historical limitations, such as size and mobility, that previous radar models faced.
It leverages advanced semiconductor technology to enhance single-channel transmission power, alongside innovative design and algorithms, ensuring a strong anti-stealth performance. This makes the YLC-8E the world’s first UHF mobile radar specifically designed for stealth target detection.
YLC-2E: The World’s First Non-Meter-Wave Anti-Stealth Radar
While meter-wave radars have traditionally dominated anti-stealth operations due to their cost-effectiveness and inherent technological advantages, they do face limitations in detection accuracy. The YLC-2E, making its debut at the airshow, breaks free from the dependency on low-frequency systems by being the first high-performance non-meter-wave anti-stealth radar on the international market.
Operating in the S-band, the YLC-2E utilizes cutting-edge semiconductor technology and modular hardware design. It employs two key components—”energy” and “intelligent algorithms”—to enhance its stealth detection capabilities. Although it lacks the frequency detection advantages of the YLC-8E, the YLC-2E compensates with superior energy output and robust algorithms, allowing it to identify small stealth targets effectively while offering strong resistance to jamming.
Complementary Technologies
The YLC-2E achieves detection performance comparable to traditional frequency-based anti-stealth radars like the YLC-8B and YLC-8E, suggesting a versatile application in modern air defense systems. Rather than signaling the obsolescence of traditional frequency methods, experts indicate that the YLC-2E complements existing radar technologies. Low-frequency radars maintain cost advantages, while the YLC-2E’s comprehensive capabilities enhance overall anti-stealth operation effectiveness.
In summary, the emergence of the YLC-2E marks a significant milestone in the evolution of radar technology, reflecting China’s commitment to advancing its defense capabilities in an era where stealth technology plays a crucial role in military strategy. Together, the YLC-8E and YLC-2E represent a new chapter in the pursuit of effective responses to the challenges posed by stealth aircraft in modern warfare.