China has deployed a new and highly advanced radar system in Yunnan province, close to the China-Myanmar border. This known as the Large Phased Array Radar (LPAR), is capable of monitoring India’s missile tests in real-time.
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With a detection range of over 5,000 kilometers, it can track missile launches from India’s key testing site, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, located off the Odisha coast. This site is crucial for testing intercontinental ballistic missiles like Agni-V and submarine-launched missiles such as the K-4.
Unlike conventional radars that rotate mechanically, LPAR uses electronically controlled antennas. This allows it to scan vast areas instantly, detect multiple targets at once, and track missile movements with high precision. India’s missile testing sites are around 2,000 to 2,200 kilometers southwest of the Yunnan radar, making them well within its detection range. This gives China a significant advantage in gathering intelligence on India’s missile capabilities.
Indian security agencies have expressed concerns that this system enables China to monitor and analyze every missile test conducted by India. Experts warn that such surveillance could impact India’s strategic preparedness. China has already stationed similar systems in Korla and Xinjiang, which cover northern India. The Yunnan radar further strengthens China’s ability to monitor the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean region.
Strategic Importance of China’s Radar Network
The Yunnan-based LPAR is reportedly under the control of a specialized unit responsible for tracking foreign space objects and providing early missile warnings. This unit is part of China’s growing military modernization efforts, focusing on space surveillance and missile defense.
Advanced radars like LPAR are specifically designed to track ballistic missiles, including those carrying nuclear warheads. These missiles travel through low-earth orbit before re-entering the atmosphere, making early detection critical. China’s expanding radar network plays a key role in its missile defense strategy, helping it track and respond to potential threats.
In recent years, China has developed multiple high-tech stations. One of the most advanced is the Jiamusi Monitoring and Early Warning Station in Heilongjiang Province. This facility, originally constructed before 2011, was upgraded and completed in 2021. A report from 2024 suggests that Jiamusi’s radar system is now managed under the same unit as the Yunnan radar. However, internal conflicts within China’s military exist over the control of these assets, as different branches compete for dominance.
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Military analysts believe China is integrating these radar systems to track hypersonic missiles, which travel at extremely high speeds and are difficult to detect using traditional radar technology. This indicates that China is not only strengthening its surveillance over India but also preparing for a broader range of security threats.
India’s Security Concerns and Military Readiness
China’s new radar system does more than just track missile launches. It has advanced electronic warfare capabilities that could interfere with communication networks. These include radio signals, GPS systems, aviation navigation, and military communication channels. Such interference could disrupt critical operations during conflicts.
Additionally, China has placed increasing strategic focus on the Bay of Bengal and the Malacca Strait, two key regions crucial for India’s trade and naval activities. By connecting the Yunnan radar with other surveillance stations in Korla and Xinjiang, China has established a wider network to monitor India’s eastern and northern territories.
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In response to these developments, Indian defense experts have called for strengthening the country’s own early warning and tracking systems. India has developed its own advanced system, known as Swordfish, which is designed to detect long-range missile threats. However, experts argue that more investment and technological upgrades are required to counter China’s growing surveillance capabilities.
At the same time, China has been increasing its military readiness. In early 2025, top military officials visited frontline units and emphasized the need for combat preparedness, citing tensions across multiple regions, including the border with India. China’s rapid advancements in technology, combined with its assertive military positioning, have added to security challenges in the region.
As both countries continue to expand their defense systems, the deployment of high-tech radar stations like LPAR marks a new phase in surveillance and military strategy. The increasing use of advanced radar networks highlights the growing role of technology in modern warfare, where intelligence gathering and early threat detection have become critical components of national security.
