Exhibits on the site of the 9th World Radar Expo in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, April 23, 2021. /CFP
High-end Chinese homemade counter-drone radar technologies are currently on display at the 9th World Radar Expo in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, addressing the threat posed by drones to both traditional and non-traditional security fields.
The massive use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict last year has shown that more and more countries are equipped with stealth fighters, and anti-stealth and anti-UAV radars, which are in the spotlight of the Nanjing expo.
YLC-48 portable multipurpose reconnaissance radar
A photo of YLC-48 "Spider Web" Portable Multi-function Reconnaissance Radar. /China military drone alliance (CMDA)
China's first portable phased array radar, the YLC-48 portable multipurpose reconnaissance radar is one example of such frontier technology.
Developed by the No.14 Research Institute of the state-owned China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), the YLC-48 can be carried by a single soldier because of its small size, a feature highly different from other radar systems of similar function.
Dubbed the "spider web," the YLC-48 can detect low-altitude small and slow targets even in cases of strong noise waves close to the ground. And it can effectively detect and track incoming targets from any angle, said its developer.
S-band 3D TWA low-altitude surveillance radar
The S-band 3D TWA low-altitude surveillance radar developed by the No.38 Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation. /CETC
Developed by the No.38 Research Institute of CETC, the S-band 3D TWA low-altitude surveillance radar also makes its debut at the expo.
This radar system can simultaneously detect and track targets including low-flying cruise missiles, warplanes and small drones, and can also provide information including distances, locations, heights, speeds and directions. The radar will be deployed in key locations like cities, nuclear plants and military facilities, according to the CETC.
The 9th World Radar Expo is jointly hosted by the China Radar Industry Association (CRIA), the China Electronics Technology Group (CETC) and the China Electronics Information Industry Group (CEC) from Thursday to Saturday.
This year's expo is bigger in size than previous editions, attracting more than 50 international guests from over 30 countries along the Belt and Road Initiative as well as over 400 companies from the radar and electronics industries.