During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Lunar New Year address to the military, a rare opportunity arose to observe China‘s advanced long-range radar system—an early-warning mechanism engineered to identify threats well beyond its borders.
The year-end military video, presented to Xi by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), displayed a ground-based phased-array radar station, with troops designated for “early warning and monitoring” standing in formation in front of it.
The footage, which included representatives from the army, navy, air force, and aerospace force, subtly underscored China’s expanding surveillance capabilities.
While specific details about the radar system are limited, it was featured again in a CCTV report, providing a closer examination of its impressive design—an octagonal array of numerous antennas situated within a building approximately six stories high.
Claims from Chinese Media
As reported by the ‘South China Morning Post,’ analysts indicate that the long-range radar showcased in the video is crucial to Beijing’s strategy to enhance its early warning capabilities against missile threats.
Military analyst and former PLA instructor Song Zhongping described the structure as a “strategic, active phased-array radar,” which is said to have the ability to detect missile threats over a range of several “thousand kilometers.”
Song further highlighted that this radar system serves as a frontline component of China’s anti-missile defense framework. “Early warnings are essential—having time to deploy countermeasures is vital,” he remarked. He also indicated that China is likely incorporating this system to monitor “hypersonic missiles,” a transformative capability in contemporary warfare.
In a recent video, a representative from the PLA Aerospace Force stood in front of a large radar installation, conveying a firm message: “We will closely monitor the battlefield conditions to ensure an immediate response to any emerging threats.”
Strategic Location: The Growing Importance of Jiamusi
Although Chinese media did not disclose the exact site of the radar station, Taiwanese defense analyst Joseph Wen identified it on X as the “Jiamusi Monitoring and Early Warning Station of the Military Aerospace Forces.”
Initially built prior to 2011, this Large Phased-Array Radar (LPAR) station underwent extensive upgrades and was finalized in 2021. Situated in Heilongjiang Province, Jiamusi has become a vital component of China’s early warning system.
As reported by the American think tank GlobalSecurity.org, a substantial, non-rotatable 30×24-meter X-band radar station was established in Huanan County, Jiamusi. This X-band radar is designed to intercept, track, and identify targets by leveraging data from the P-band long-range early-warning phased-array radar. This integration allows for accurate target information for missile defense systems such as Hongqi-19 and Kinetic-3. The focused X-band radar can also differentiate specific objects, aiding in the identification of genuine threats versus decoys.
In a report released in September 2024, the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI), affiliated with the US Department of the Air Force, highlighted that Jiamusi is home to a deep-space radar facility managed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
It is believed that Jiamusi accommodates at least one unit of the People’s Liberation Army’s Strategic Support Force (SSF). However, it remains uncertain whether this unit is responsible for operating the facility’s systems, including the Large Phased Array Radar (LPAR), or if it is simply stationed at the Academy of Sciences location.
According to CASI’s findings, the Jiamusi LPAR falls under the jurisdiction of China’s ‘Base 37,’ a specialized division of the PLA Aerospace Force (PLAASF) that concentrates on early-warning systems and space situational awareness (SSA).
Historically, LPAR stations were managed by the PLA Air Force (PLAAF). Nevertheless, escalating tensions between the PLAAF and PLAASF regarding the oversight of these vital assets may result in the establishment of two separate LPAR networks, each characterized by its own command structures and data-sharing protocols.
China’s internal competition may hinder its overall space situational awareness (SSA) capabilities, potentially leading to inefficiencies in monitoring foreign missile activities and space-related threats.
Phased-Array Radars: China’s Missile Defense
Phased-array radar technology provides significantly enhanced scanning speeds and improved accuracy compared to traditional radar systems. Unlike conventional radars that require physical rotation, phased-array radars utilize electronically controlled arrays to swiftly adjust their focus in various directions, thereby increasing tracking efficiency.
Since the 1970s, China has been investing in phased-array radar technology as part of its extensive military modernization initiatives.
Although the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has kept specifics about its long-range early-warning radar systems confidential, a recent U.S. Pentagon report noted several ground-based, large phased-array radars that resemble the U.S. PAVE PAWS system, indicating their potential importance in missile early warning.
China’s Expanding Missile Defense
With the growth of its military capabilities, long-range defense systems have become vital to China’s national security and deterrence strategy. In a notable event, the PLA conducted a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile last year—the first of its kind in decades—showcasing its advancing strategic capabilities.
Additionally, China is developing sophisticated anti-ballistic missile systems such as the HQ-19, which is often likened to the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. The HQ-19, publicly displayed at the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, is designed to intercept targets at altitudes reaching up to 200 km.
China asserts that it has created the world’s first ‘seabed radar,’ which purportedly has the ability to detect high-altitude aircraft from a depth of 1,000 meters, extending beyond traditional surface defenses.
Although this project remains classified, such a system has the potential to transform undersea warfare by greatly improving the offensive and surveillance capabilities of submarines.
What Does the Future Hold?
The exact capabilities of China’s six-story radar are not fully disclosed, but its development represents a significant advancement in Beijing’s missile defense framework.
The question of whether it can effectively track hypersonic missiles over vast distances remains open to discussion. Nonetheless, it is clear that China’s commitment to enhancing early-warning and missile defense technologies is intensifying, introducing a new facet to global military rivalry.
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