China Claims World’s First 2-D Airborne Active Phased Array Fire Control Radar

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China's Leihua Electronic Technology Research Institute has claimed the development of the world's first two-dimensional airborne air cooled active phased array fire control radar.

The radar has been tested during flight evaluation, an article in Global Times said adding that the radar system, replaces pulse-doppler radars on jet fighters with active phased array radars.

The air cooling system of the new radars cuts the weight of the jets besides reducing the change cycle, which could greatly improve the jets' combat capability.

The jet fighters to possibly apply such radar upgrade are J11-B or J11-D, Said Global Times quoting Song Zhongping, a military expert who used to serve in the PLA Rocket Force.

Another expert, Du Kaiyuan was quoted in the same article as saying that the new radar system can spot third-generation jet fighters from at least 200 kilometers and intercept medium range air-to-air missiles.

Pakistan is interested in using it for its JF-17 Block3 fighter jets which it manufactures in collaboration with China.