China builds giant anti-hypersonic radar that can track every small and big Indian missile from 5,000 km away
Indian security agencies have raised the alarm, warning the government that China’s radar placement gives it an unprecedented intelligence advantage. “This system allows Beijing to detect, track, and analyse every missile test India conducts, giving them insights into our strategic capabilities,” said a senior defence official.
A Game-Changer in Early Warning Technology
Unlike conventional radars that rely on mechanical rotation, LPARs use electronically controlled antennas that scan vast areas almost instantly. This allows them to track multiple objects with precision, making them a crucial component of modern air defence networks. All ballistic missiles, including those armed with nuclear warheads, travel through low-earth orbit before re-entering the atmosphere. Advanced radar systems like LPAR are specifically designed to track these trajectories.
The Indian missile testing site is approximately 2,000–2,200 km southwest of China’s new radar station. This places it well within LPAR’s detection range, allowing Beijing to pick up signals of all missile launches. China has already deployed similar radars in Korla and Xinjiang, which monitor northern India. The addition of the Yunnan-based radar extends China’s surveillance reach to the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal.
The Strategic Importance of Yunnan’s Radar
This radar is reportedly under the command and control of ‘Base 37’, a specialised unit of the People’s Liberation Army Aerospace Force (PLAAF) responsible for monitoring foreign space objects and providing early missile warning. Base 37 is also a hub for space situational awareness (SSA), processing vast amounts of orbital data.
In recent years, China has ramped up its radar deployments as part of its military modernisation. According to the South China Morning Post, LPAR stations like these play a critical role in China’s anti-missile defence strategy. Military analyst Song Zhongping stated, “Early warnings are crucial—gaining time to mobilise countermeasures is key.” He further noted that China is likely integrating these systems to track hypersonic missiles, an emerging class of ultra-fast weapons that traditional radars struggle to detect.
China’s Expanding Surveillance Network
Chinese state media recently aired footage of an advanced long-range radar system, reinforcing Beijing’s growing focus on missile detection. During President Xi Jinping’s Lunar New Year address to the military, the PLA showcased a ground-based phased-array radar station with troops from the army, navy, air force, and aerospace force standing in formation before it.Taiwanese defence analyst Joseph Wen identified this facility as the Jiamusi Monitoring and Early Warning Station, located in Heilongjiang Province. Originally constructed before 2011, the site underwent significant upgrades and was completed in 2021. A September 2024 report by the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI), a think tank of the US Department of the Air Force, indicated that Jiamusi houses a deep-space radar operated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
CASI’s report suggests that Jiamusi’s LPAR system is now under the command of Base 37. However, tensions exist within China’s military over control of these critical assets, with both the PLAAF and the PLA Aerospace Force vying for dominance. If China develops two parallel LPAR networks, their separate command structures could create inefficiencies in tracking foreign missile activity and space-based threats.
India’s Growing Security Concerns
China’s new radar is not just about missile tracking. LPAR stations are known to have electronic warfare capabilities, meaning they could potentially interfere with communication systems, including radio, GPS signals, aviation navigation, and military communications.
China has also placed strategic emphasis on the Bay of Bengal and Malacca Strait, two key maritime regions for India’s trade and naval operations. By integrating its new Yunnan radar with existing systems in Korla and Xinjiang, Beijing now has a wider surveillance net over India’s eastern and northern fronts.
In response, Indian defence experts have urged the government to strengthen its own early warning and surveillance systems. India has developed radar networks such as Swordfish, an advanced long-range tracking radar, but analysts say more investment is needed to counter China’s growing technological edge.
Military Readiness and Rising Tensions
As China expands its radar network, its military leadership is also ramping up combat preparedness. In January 2025, top PLA officials General Zhang Youxia and General He Weidong visited troops and emphasised the need for heightened readiness. They cited military tensions “on multiple fronts, including the border with India and the Taiwan Strait.”
China’s rapid advancements in radar technology, coupled with its increasingly assertive military posture, add to the complexities of regional security. For India, the challenge lies not just in countering Beijing’s surveillance but also in ensuring that its own missile defence and strategic capabilities remain protected.
