Chinese navy’s new ‘compact’ radar will allow it to keep watch over an area the size of India

Chinese military scientists have made significant headway in upgrading China’s radar technology, and are developing an advanced “compact size” radar for the navy’s carrier fleet that will allow it to maintain constant surveillance over an area the size of India.

The improved system will enable the Chinese navy to spot incoming threats from enemy ships, aircraft and missiles much earlier than the existing technology allows, according to scientists who chaired China’s Over-the-Horizon (OTH) radar programme.

The programme emerged into the public spotlight on Tuesday when its lead scientist, Liu Yongtan, a professor with the department of electric and information engineering at Harbin Institute of Technology, received China’s top science award from President Xi Jinping at a national ceremony.

Another military scientist, Qian Qihu, was also honoured at the event in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday for his work on underground nuclear shelter facilities.

Liu told state media that land-based, over-the-horizon radar had greatly increased the range of an area the PLA could monitor.

“Relying on traditional technologies, our surveillance and monitoring could only cover about 20 per cent of our maritime territory,” Liu told state news agency Xinhua. “With the new system, we can cover the whole area.”