Tehran gains cutting-edge radar capable of detecting stealth aircraft, enhancing its missile defense systems
TEHRAN: Iran has acquired China’s advanced YLC-8B anti-stealth radar system, a move experts say could alter the regional balance of air power. The system, developed by the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology, is capable of detecting enemy aircraft up to 500 kilometers away and incoming missiles up to 700 kilometers.
The radar operates in the UHF frequency band, allowing it to detect stealth aircraft such as the F-35, whose designs are normally intended to evade conventional radar. Fully digital and mobile via trucks, the system is harder for adversaries to target. YLC-8B will complement Iran’s indigenous Bavar-373 and Russian S-300 systems, enhancing missile launch accuracy and response time.
Defense analysts note that this development challenges the previous freedom of action enjoyed by Israel and United States in Iranian airspace. The transfer underscores China’s willingness to provide sensitive technology to Iran, signaling a strategic effort to counter U.S. influence in the Middle East.
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