China has developed a new method for detecting stealth targets by using electromagnetic radiation from Starlink satellites, according to the South China Morning Post. If confirmed, this breakthrough could challenge a key aspect of U.S. military technology.
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In an experiment conducted in the South China Sea, the research team used a DJI Phantom Pro drone as a stand-in for a stealth aircraft. The small drone, which the newspaper reports has a radar cross-section similar to that of a stealth fighter, was launched from the coast of Guangdong.
Unlike traditional reconnaissance methods, no ground-based or air-based radar systems were used. Instead, the researchers detected the drone by analyzing electromagnetic radiation from a Starlink satellite orbiting over the Philippines that illuminated the object.
As the drone passed through the radio signals continuously transmitted by the satellite, some of the radio waves were scattered and disrupted. The researchers used their antenna to detect these slight signal disturbances, allowing them to pinpoint the drone’s location. They developed a specialized algorithm for this purpose. The system is designed to be so precise that it can even detect small details of the drone, such as the movement of its propellers.
Conventional stealth aircraft use specific shapes and absorbent coatings to reduce radar reflections. However, this new method could make these defense measures ineffective. Unlike radar emissions, which can be detected and countered by radar-seeking weapons, the passive system employed by the Chinese researchers does not emit any signals.
Impact on Stealth Technology and Military Operations
If confirmed, this research could have significant implications. Stealth technology has been a fundamental element of modern military aviation, with aircraft like the American F-22 specifically designed to evade conventional radar systems.
