China claims ability to detect F-35 stealth aircraft

China has claimed the ability to detect stealth aircraft, such as the American F-35, using various radar systems including passive, over-the-horizon, and meter-wave arrays. These systems are frequently showcased at the Zhuhai Airshow.

Technical analysis suggests a distinction between detection and targeting. While low-frequency radars can detect stealth objects because longer wavelengths perceive the aircraft as a single metallic mass rather than a collection of angled surfaces, these systems lack the angular precision required to guide missiles.

To achieve the accuracy necessary for a successful strike, a meter-wave radar would require an antenna so massive that it would lack mobility. Consequently, while detection is possible, the full kill chain remains a significant technical challenge.