China offers ‘friendly countries’ radar system that can detect enemy satellites
- SLC-18 can detect and track multiple low-orbiting satellites at the same time
- System provides ‘situational awareness capabilities’ on modern battlefields
China is offering “friendly countries” the chance to buy a radar system that could offset the battlefield reconnaissance advantages of Western satellites.
CETC said the high-power low-frequency P-band radar could work around the clock in all weather and had a large search range.
“This radar provides relatively economical ground-based monitoring of space targets to serve friendly countries … offering situational awareness capabilities against low-orbiting satellites to balance the battlefield posture,” state media quoted CETC deputy manager Sun Rui as saying.
With satellite surveillance being increasingly used in modern warfare, armies need to be able to track spy satellites travelling over a certain region so that ground forces can evade detection, engage in deceptive manoeuvres or even take countermeasures like jamming.