SpaceX's Starlink satellite network can identify stealth aircraft in the air, a group of Chinese researchers claim.
Using the reflected signals of both the satellites and the ground, they have created a technique detecting the shadow an aircraft creates, a technique that could revolutionize the way stealth technology is seen.
Starlink Satellites in Detecting Stealth Jets
Chinese scholars discovered that they can use SpaceX's vast Starlink satellite network for passive tracking of stealth aircraft.
According to Interesting Engineering, the technique involves monitoring the interference caused by the electromagnetic signals from the satellites whenever a plane is within the path of the transmission. It shows a type of disturbance or a 'shadow' of Stealth aircraft which are invisible to the normal radar system.
In the experiment, the DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone was used because it actually resembles a stealth fighter in terms of the radar cross section which is similar to the radar cross-section of advanced U. S. fighter jets like F-22. This experiment was carried out in the South China Sea, off the coast of Guangdong province with the Chinese State Radio Monitoring Centre overseeing the process. Moreover, the achievements of the researchers were first published after they underwent the process of peer review.
How Stealth Aircraft Work and the Challenge They Present
One example of low observable stealth aircraft F-22 is designed in a way that makes it difficult to be detected by radar. Advanced design techniques such as the use of angular geometrical shapes and stealth technology coatings to minimize the radar shadow characterize these planes. This makes them almost undetectable to conventional radar and that is because radar uses frequency images to identify and monitor objects in the sky.
However, the Chinese research team has assessed various countermeasures deployed by these stealth aircraft and thinks it has a solution on how they interfere with the electromagnetic signals from the Starlink satellites.
A stealth plane that passes in between a Starlink satellite and a ground station disrupts the transmitted signals in a forward manner and produces a scattering that can be analyzed to give detection of the aircraft's presence.
These satellites emit high-frequency radio signals, primarily for providing high-speed internet access worldwide, with speeds reaching up to 220Mbps.
Despite being encrypted and inaccessible to users in China due to policy restrictions, the Chinese research team, led by a researcher named Yi, claims they've developed a receiver capable of capturing and analyzing Starlink signals using affordable, commercially available components.
The research suggests that even though stealth technology is designed to evade radar, Starlink's vast electromagnetic signal network could detect aircraft regardless of their shape or surface materials. With thousands of satellites in orbit, this detection system could potentially offer widespread coverage.
China Thinks it's Not Yet Made For Military Development
Although this discovery marks a significant advancement, the technology is not yet ready for military deployment. The current radar antenna used by Yi's team is only the size of a frying pan, and their experiment involved drones flying at relatively low altitudes. While the system successfully detected intricate details like the movement of drone rotors, it's not yet capable of full-scale stealth aircraft detection at operational altitudes.
Yi and his team revised the forward scatter radar detection model, fine-tuning the algorithm that processes the received signals.
The team used a high-performance chip, though the specifics remain undisclosed. Despite these advancements, the system is still in its experimental stages and requires further development before it can be applied to real-world military scenarios.
Potential Applications in Anti-Drone and Stealth Fighter Detection
The Chinese research team has confirmed the feasibility and effectiveness of their technique, particularly for anti-drone and stealth fighter applications. By detecting signal distortions caused by aircraft and drones, this new method could enhance airspace monitoring and defense systems.
"Using third-party radiation sources, radar systems can have improved concealment and anti-jamming capabilities," the researchers said.
Although the technology is still in development, the ability to detect previously undetectable stealth aircraft represents a major breakthrough.
