Illustrative image.
The Iranian military has reportedly received and deployed at least one YLC-8B long-range anti-stealth surveillance radar from China.
The delivery of the YLC-8B was first reported by several defense news outlets, including Defence Security Asia, on February 5, then by the Middle East Monitor on February 9. None of the reports specified when Iran received the radar, or where it is currently deployed.
The YLC-8B was delivered by China’s Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology. It utilizes full coherent digital pulse compression and dynamic target detection technology.
The radar is optimized for early warning detection of airborne targets and also has sufficient resolution to perform target tracking functions. It reportedly has the capability to track stealth aircraft because of its low, UHF-band operating frequency. It can also track small-radar-cross-section missiles at long range as well as ballistic missiles and other near-space objects.
The YLC-8B can detect and track aircraft that are over 500 kilometers away, as well as missile threats out to ranges of over 700 kilometers.
The antenna is a fold-able array designed for automatic, rapid deployment and recovery. It is road, rail, and sea transportable, and is claimed to require less than 30 minutes for a six-person crew to set up and tear down.
The radar gives Iran a critical window of opportunity to prepare against the Israeli threat, the Middle East Monitor said in its report.
According to geopolitical expert Brandon Weichert, the deployment of the Chinese radar system has created a “trap” for the Israeli Air Force: “Iranian anti-ship and air defense systems, supported by Chinese intelligence, can detect threats in real-time.” This effectively counters the Israeli “shoot-and-scoot” tactic.
Meanwhile, Defence Security Asia noted that earlier detection compresses decision cycles and forces attacking forces to commit additional assets to electronic warfare.
The delivery of the radar came amid a massive U.S. military buildup in the Middle East that began last month with President Donald Trump threatening Iran with military action over a wave of deadly protests. The two sides have held two rounds of indict talks since the start of February. However, the scope of the talks remain limited to the nuclear issue, and an agreement appears to be still far away.
While the YLC-8B brings the early warning capabilities of Iran to a whole new level, it will not likely do much in the context of a large-scale attack by the U.S. and Israel.
During the 12-day June war last year, many of Iran’s early warning radars and air defense systems were taken out by cells of the Israeli Mossad spy agency, which were armed with loitering munitions and guided missiles. The same could happen to the newly-delivered YLC-8B.
It’s worth noting that several reports that came out after the war suggested that Iran was working to rebuild its defensive and offensive capabilities with help from China, as well as Russia.
Iran has tightened security measures since the last war, but it is still unclear if it will be able to prevent similar sabotage operations from within its territories if a new war breaks out.
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it would better to support iran sending long range hypersonic antiship missile and fighterjets armed with pl 15 and r-37m long range air to air missile.