Chinese researchers have announced a significant advancement in radar technology, potentially escalating the global race for hypersonic weapons. A team led by Professor Zheng Xiaoping from Tsinghua University's Department of Electronic Engineering claims to have developed a radar system capable of precisely tracking multiple hypersonic missiles traveling at Mach 20 while simultaneously identifying and eliminating false targets.
In ground-based simulations, the new radar demonstrated an impressive accuracy, estimating the distance of a missile traveling at nearly 7km per second with an error margin of just 28cm. It also achieved up to 99.7% accuracy in estimating the missile's speed, a feat previously considered unattainable.
The team overcame the challenge of generating and analyzing high-precision radar signals by incorporating lasers into the radar design. This innovation allows information transmission between key nodes to reach the speed of light, enabling the radar system to generate and process complex microwave signals that precisely measure ultra-high-speed objects.
According to a peer-reviewed paper published in the Chinese journal Optical Communication Technology, this new microwave photonic radar boasts a detection range of over 600km. Its compact and lightweight design makes it suitable for deployment on air-defense missiles or aircraft, and military experts consider it a key technology for the next generation of fire-control radars.
This breakthrough comes at a time of heightened international focus on hypersonic weapons, which are notoriously difficult to intercept due to their speed and maneuverability. The United States, among other nations, is actively developing hypersonic missiles and seeking to enhance its defense capabilities against them.
The Chinese researchers' achievement could have significant implications for the development of hypersonic weapons and defense systems worldwide.
While some experts express caution due to the lack of independent verification of the Chinese team's claims, others believe that this breakthrough could accelerate the development of advanced radar systems and further intensify the global race for hypersonic weapons.
