China has revealed its newest advancements in anti-stealth radar technology at the 11th World Radar Expo held in Hefei, Anhui Province. Among the most notable was the debut of the JY-27V radar system, a mobile meter-wave air surveillance platform claimed to be capable of detecting advanced U.S. stealth fighters like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.
Manufactured by the state-owned China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), the JY-27V integrates low-frequency operation, a high-power aperture, and advanced intelligent algorithms. Mounted on a military truck, the radar system features a massive active electronically scanned array (AESA) panel and boasts rapid deployment and retraction capability in under ten minutes.
CETC scientists emphasized the radar’s capabilities to detect stealth targets at long ranges and guide precision air defense strikes. Compared to its predecessor, the JY-27A, the JY-27V offers a larger antenna, lower frequency band, and enhanced processing algorithms, which reportedly improve detection range and accuracy against low-observable aircraft.
Meter-wave radars like the JY-27V operate in the 30–300 MHz frequency range with wavelengths of 1–10 meters, making them more effective against stealth aircraft that are optimized to evade detection from higher-frequency microwave radars. This gives such systems a theoretical edge in detecting radar-absorbing materials and unconventional shapes used in fifth-generation fighter jets.
Other advanced systems were also on display. The YLC-8E radar, a successor to the YLC-8B, works in the UHF band and provides three-dimensional surveillance with enhanced anti-stealth features and robust digital phased array scanning. CETC’s SLC-7 radar, a fourth-generation intelligence system, was showcased with capabilities to simultaneously track and engage multiple aerial threats, offering strong anti-jamming and high accuracy performance.
The expo also featured low-altitude surveillance radars like the JY-11 S-band radar, known for its counter-drone utility, and the YLC-12 C-band radar, which can detect slow and highly maneuverable targets. The JYL-1 long-range radar, designed for deployment in remote or extreme terrain, highlighted China’s push for autonomous and mobile radar systems.
Altogether, CETC’s radar lineup at the 2025 expo signals a significant leap in China’s radar and electronic warfare capabilities, particularly in the domain of counter-stealth operations. With rising tensions and evolving aerial threats, the showcase served as both a technological milestone and a strategic message to rivals equipped with stealth assets.
