News Brief
With 5,000 Km Detection Range, China Deploys Phased Array Radar Near Myanmar Border To Boost Surveillance On Indian Missile Tests
China's Dongfeng-2 missile
China has deployed a powerful Large Phased Array Radar (LPAR) in Yunnan province, near the China-Myanmar border, significantly enhancing its surveillance capabilities over India's ballistic missile programs, reported The Economic Times.
With an estimated detection range exceeding 5,000 km, the system allows Beijing to track India's missile launches in real time, including tests conducted from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha's coast, a key site for trials of Agni-V ICBMs and K-4 submarine-launched missiles.
Indian security agencies have raised concerns, warning that China now has an intelligence advantage in monitoring India’s strategic missile developments.
“This system allows Beijing to detect, track, and analyse every missile test India conducts, giving them insights into our strategic capabilities,” a senior defence official stated to The Economic Times.
The Indian missile testing site, located approximately 2,000-2,200 km southwest of China's new LPAR station, falls well within its detection range, allowing continuous monitoring of India's missile advancements.
However, China’s ambitions extend beyond mere tracking. LPAR systems are known for their electronic warfare capabilities, which means they can interfere with critical communication systems, including radio frequencies, GPS signals, aviation navigation, and military communications
Beijing has also placed strategic emphasis on the Bay of Bengal and Malacca Strait, two crucial maritime regions for India’s trade and naval operations.
By integrating the Yunnan LPAR with its existing radar systems in Korla and Xinjiang, China has created a wider intelligence net over India’s eastern and northern frontiers.
This expansion gives the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) the ability to monitor and respond to regional developments in real time.
The new radar is reportedly under the command of ‘Base 37’, a specialised unit of the People’s Liberation Army Aerospace Force (PLAAF). Base 37 is responsible for tracking foreign space objects, providing early missile warning, space situational awareness (SSA) and orbital data.
