A Closer Look At Stealth, Part 4: Counterstealth Radars At Zhuhai 2016

CETC displayed three large, low-frequency radars produced by its Nanjing Research Institute of Electronic Technology (NRIET). Front left to right, these were the VHF-band JY-27A, the UHF-band YLC-8B and the L-band SLC-7.

This side view provides a better size comparison for the three CETC low-frequency radars that were on display. Again, from left to right, the VHF-band JY-27A, the UHF-band YLC-8B and the L-band SLC-7.

CETC’s VHF-band JY-27A features an array of 400 straight dipoles, aligned horizontally. The array scans electronically in azimuth and elevation.

CETC’s UHF-band YLC-8B uses an array of approximately 1,800 swept dipoles, staggered horizontally. The array scans electronically in azimuth and elevation and rotates mechanically for 360-deg. coverage. Data distributed by NRIET, which designed the system for CETC, say it can detect America’s stealthy F-22 at 215 mi. and China’s own JH-7 conventional fighter at 340 mi.

CETC’s L-band SLC-7, designed by NRIET, uses an array of approximately 2,900 swept dipoles, staggered horizontally. The array scans electronically in azimuth and elevation and rotates mechanically for 360-deg. coverage.

Inside one of the halls at the air show, the China Electronics Corp. (CEC) displayed its REL-4, an L-band radar the company says is capable of detecting stealthy aircraft at significant ranges.

CETC displayed its JY-50 VHF-band, passive 2-D radar next to its three large, low-frequency active radars. Consisting of two rows of 12 inverted V elements atop a truck, the system relies on detecting ambient radio waves after they reflect off of aircraft, rather than detecting radio waves it emitted itself. This passive operation means it cannot be detected by enemy electronic listening systems and its small size likely enables greater mobility than the large array active, low-frequency radars. However, it cannot determine target altitude, likely exhibits poor accuracy in azimuth and range and is still detectable by adversary ground surveillance radars.

This angle provides a better look at the receiver elements employed by CETC’s JY-50 passive radar.

Almaz-Antey’s 55Zh6ME “Nebo-M,” designed by the Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Radio Engineering (NNiiRT), pictured in this illustration from the company’s product card was introduced in the late 2000s and is currently the most accurate counterstealth radar system available. It uses three radars operating in different bands on separate vehicles: VHF-band (farthest in the illustration), L-band (nearest) and S-band (middle).

Depicted in this product card illustration is Almaz-Antey’s 55Zh6UME, designed by NNiiRT. The system mounts a VHF-band AESA on the same trailer as an L-band slotted waveguide antenna, to provide better elevation accuracy with a single vehicle that earlier VHF-band radars.

Pictured in this product card illustration is Almaz-Antey’s Barrier-E radar “fence,” designed by NNiiRT. These L-band transmit/receive towers are placed opposite each other across spans of up to 30 mi. to detect aircraft passing between them at altitudes from 100-23,000 ft. The towers operate in a bistatic, forward-scattering manner, in which each tower receives radar waves emitted by the opposite tower after they reflect off of the target.