China’s aerospace force reveals long-range radar in message to Xi Jinping

PLA end-of-year video includes rare close-up footage of radar station said to be ‘at the forefront’ of country’s anti-missile defence system

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PLA Aerospace Force members, with the ground-based phased-array radar station in the background, in the video sent to Xi Jinping. Photo: Handout

Published: 8:00pm, 30 Jan 2025

Rare close-up footage of China’s strategic long-range radar has been aired in a state television report on President Xi Jinping’s Lunar New Year message to the military.

A ground-based phased-array radar station, with “early warning and monitoring” troops standing in front of it, was seen in an end-of-year video sent to Xi by the People’s Liberation Army on Friday.

It featured in a CCTV report Saturday, and while details of the system were not disclosed, analysts said the advanced radar in the footage was a key part of Beijing’s efforts to improve its early warning capabilities against missile threats.

The PLA video sent to Xi featured representatives from across the military, including the army, navy, air force and aerospace force, which showed the radar system as part of its message to the president.

Close-up footage of the radar station aired on CCTV showed dozens of antennas lined up in an octagon array in a structure at least six storeys high.

The structure shown in the video is at least six storeys high. Photo: Handout

Standing in front of the radar, an aerospace force representative said: “We will strictly monitor the battlefield situation to ensure that if there is any situation, we will respond immediately.”