China showed off what it claims is an anti-stealth radar system at this month’s Zhuhai Air Show. If true, the radar threatens to undo hundreds of billions in U.S. spending on stealth warplanes.

China showed off two anti-stealth radars at Zhuhai. The first, the JY-27A 3-D long-range surveillance/guidance radar, is a Very High Frequency (VHF) radar that, according to Shephard Media, is the Chinese military’s first active-phased array radar. VHF radars, with their longer wavelengths, are more likely to detect stealth aircraft, and it’s been known that China has been working on them for some time now.

 Phased-array radars, unlike traditional “dish” radars, are flat panels composed of hundreds of smaller transmit/receive panels. While traditional radars are like turning on a flashlight in a dark room—everyone can see where the beam of light is coming from—phased array radars are more difficult to detect. They’re also less susceptible to jamming.

The article states “There are unverified claims that the radar can pick up hostile stealth fighters at ranges of up to 500km (310 miles.)” If so, that would out-stick American stealth aircraft, revealing them before they could get into a fight.

Read More- Popular Mechanics

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