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China Could Arm Pakistan With Its ‘Satellite Killer’ SLC-18 Radar; Worries Mount For Indian Defense Forces

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China Could Arm Pakistan With Its ‘Satellite Killer’ SLC-18 Radar; Worries Mount For Indian Defense Forces​

ByAshish Dangwal

November 15, 2022

China appears to be considering equipping Pakistan with its cutting-edge SLC-18 space surveillance active phased array radar, which would downsize the Indian military’s dominance over Islamabad.

The radar was displayed for the first time at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai (Guangdong), which concluded on November 13. The ten-meter-tall SLC-18 radar is said to be particularly successful in detecting and tracking multiple Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites in all conditions.

LEO satellites are located anywhere from 200 kilometers to 2,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. These satellites are used primarily for data collection and military surveillance and have steadily evolved into critical equipment for powerful countries seeking remote intelligence.

LEO satellites can carry out intense, 360-degree, and all-factor hotspot surveillance thanks to their powerful capability, small size, and flexible orbits. China’s new radar is capable of monitoring such satellites.

The SLC-18 was developed by the state-owned China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), which also manufactures electronic systems and components, missiles, radars, and other weapons for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Sun Lei, CETC deputy general manager, said, “This radar will allow friendly countries to locate targets in space.” The statement hints at China’s desire to provide Pakistan with a radar system.

The system provides capabilities for situational awareness against low-orbiting satellites to balance the tactical stance. This radar is substantially less expensive than others in its class, adding an affordability factor for Pakistan.

Fg8qHp8WAAEkUCc

SLC-18 P Band Active Phase Array Radar in Zhuhai Airshow 2022: Twitter

It is important to note that India is a significant space power with a diverse array of satellites in orbit. This enables New Delhi to monitor Islamabad’s every action. However, with the SLC-18 radar, Pakistan could detect where the Indian satellites are.

China and Pakistan have close ties, referring to one another as “iron brothers” and “all-weather allies” in their bilateral declarations. China is Pakistan’s top supplier of military equipment, including aircraft, missiles, and warships.

Islamabad is also crucial to China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. Highlighting that point, Sun emphasized that the SLC-18 radar’s situational awareness against LEO satellites and competitively priced ground-based space target monitoring can help the Belt and Road Initiative.

In the five years between 2017 and 2021, according to data from the Swedish research tank SIPRI, which contains information on weapon transfers, Pakistan imported 72% of its total weapons from China, and it was also the end recipient of 47% of all of China’s major arms exports.

In addition, China has armed Pakistan with its HQ 9/P HIMADS (High to Medium Air Defense System), which was inducted into the Pakistan Army Air Defense in October 2021.

With a single-shot kill probability, the HQ 9 can intercept various air targets, such as aircraft, cruise missiles, and weapons, beyond the optical range of more than 100 kilometers.

SLC-18 Radar Capabilities

The SLC-18 radar, a P-band solid-state active phased array radar, is primarily used to detect space targets. It can track and measure several objects while searching for and capturing LEO satellites and other space targets.

Sun told the Global Times that the SLC-18 radar could identify and catalog satellites to create a radar database, which may be used to direct other equipment to respond accordingly.

This development also alters the traditional practices of developing nations purchasing satellite data from developed countries, which may be compromised and very expensive because they lack the necessary space-based resources and platforms.

vHR457qezQLTW5wCgSVvt0HUke8AFahFhNqY_SGgyl4.jpg
LEO satellite technology

The SLC-18 can detect satellites from a distance and relay satellite data to the command center to help make decisions. It has wide-area detection capability, allowing it to instantly record a satellite’s orbit and enter it into a database. Based on the orbit parameters, it can immediately assess whether it is a new satellite type and its primary usage.

Sun pointed out that the radar has essential advantages such as all-weather, all-time, multi-target, immense power, and extensive search areas, which can identify LEO targets in various airspace and cover many LEO satellite targets.

He added that the radar is entirely built in China, from chip production to manufacturing. It also uses a modular design to extend its capabilities as needed. This suggests that China’s radar development has advanced to a new level.

 

China Could Arm Pakistan With Its ‘Satellite Killer’ SLC-18 Radar; Worries Mount For Indian Defense Forces​

ByAshish Dangwal

November 15, 2022

China appears to be considering equipping Pakistan with its cutting-edge SLC-18 space surveillance active phased array radar, which would downsize the Indian military’s dominance over Islamabad.

The radar was displayed for the first time at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai (Guangdong), which concluded on November 13. The ten-meter-tall SLC-18 radar is said to be particularly successful in detecting and tracking multiple Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites in all conditions.

LEO satellites are located anywhere from 200 kilometers to 2,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. These satellites are used primarily for data collection and military surveillance and have steadily evolved into critical equipment for powerful countries seeking remote intelligence.

LEO satellites can carry out intense, 360-degree, and all-factor hotspot surveillance thanks to their powerful capability, small size, and flexible orbits. China’s new radar is capable of monitoring such satellites.

The SLC-18 was developed by the state-owned China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), which also manufactures electronic systems and components, missiles, radars, and other weapons for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Sun Lei, CETC deputy general manager, said, “This radar will allow friendly countries to locate targets in space.” The statement hints at China’s desire to provide Pakistan with a radar system.

The system provides capabilities for situational awareness against low-orbiting satellites to balance the tactical stance. This radar is substantially less expensive than others in its class, adding an affordability factor for Pakistan.

Fg8qHp8WAAEkUCc

SLC-18 P Band Active Phase Array Radar in Zhuhai Airshow 2022: Twitter

It is important to note that India is a significant space power with a diverse array of satellites in orbit. This enables New Delhi to monitor Islamabad’s every action. However, with the SLC-18 radar, Pakistan could detect where the Indian satellites are.

China and Pakistan have close ties, referring to one another as “iron brothers” and “all-weather allies” in their bilateral declarations. China is Pakistan’s top supplier of military equipment, including aircraft, missiles, and warships.

Islamabad is also crucial to China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. Highlighting that point, Sun emphasized that the SLC-18 radar’s situational awareness against LEO satellites and competitively priced ground-based space target monitoring can help the Belt and Road Initiative.

In the five years between 2017 and 2021, according to data from the Swedish research tank SIPRI, which contains information on weapon transfers, Pakistan imported 72% of its total weapons from China, and it was also the end recipient of 47% of all of China’s major arms exports.

In addition, China has armed Pakistan with its HQ 9/P HIMADS (High to Medium Air Defense System), which was inducted into the Pakistan Army Air Defense in October 2021.

With a single-shot kill probability, the HQ 9 can intercept various air targets, such as aircraft, cruise missiles, and weapons, beyond the optical range of more than 100 kilometers.

SLC-18 Radar Capabilities

The SLC-18 radar, a P-band solid-state active phased array radar, is primarily used to detect space targets. It can track and measure several objects while searching for and capturing LEO satellites and other space targets.

Sun told the Global Times that the SLC-18 radar could identify and catalog satellites to create a radar database, which may be used to direct other equipment to respond accordingly.

This development also alters the traditional practices of developing nations purchasing satellite data from developed countries, which may be compromised and very expensive because they lack the necessary space-based resources and platforms.

vHR457qezQLTW5wCgSVvt0HUke8AFahFhNqY_SGgyl4.jpg
LEO satellite technology

The SLC-18 can detect satellites from a distance and relay satellite data to the command center to help make decisions. It has wide-area detection capability, allowing it to instantly record a satellite’s orbit and enter it into a database. Based on the orbit parameters, it can immediately assess whether it is a new satellite type and its primary usage.

Sun pointed out that the radar has essential advantages such as all-weather, all-time, multi-target, immense power, and extensive search areas, which can identify LEO targets in various airspace and cover many LEO satellite targets.

He added that the radar is entirely built in China, from chip production to manufacturing. It also uses a modular design to extend its capabilities as needed. This suggests that China’s radar development has advanced to a new level.


Brilliant and indeed game changing.
 
A mount everest like capability low orbital spy satellites will be tracked by our radars not only indian but us and Israeli we just need to get a missile which is placed on Chinese type 055 destroyers which can hit these low orbital sites I'm sure these radars are bought to track and neutralize such satellites for sure
 
There seem to be technical inaccuracies in the news. Radar can be used to locate a satellite but cannot "kill". That would require a ballistic missile launch system.
 
Chinese members would you please... which system/missile has China attached to this radar to launch an attack against a satellite?
 
There seem to be technical inaccuracies in the news. Radar can be used to locate a satellite but cannot "kill". That would require a ballistic missile launch system.
You can blind a satellite or jam it from giving signal using soft kill method. Not every method need to be that brutal with hard kill.
 
it can immediately assess whether it is a new satellite type and its primary usage
Can anyone explain how can it ascertain the primary usage?
I mean I'm not new to engineering, cant see how one can classify and map a non standardized signature stream(it not like an aircraft that will look a certain way for every single unit), pinging at large distances.

I only see probabilistic models , more in line with ML classifications, even then non actionable, can be easily spoofed.

I call bs, i wager its an ABM early warning system(for China) a listening post of sorts, redundant in case of SLBMs.
Can also be multi mode, can provide assistive guidance, midflight to incoming packages as well.
 
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Instead of spending more and more on weapons and other offensive capabilities; both India and Pakistan need to reconsider their relation and the situation of the combined 1.8 Billion population most of which lives in abject poverty.

If we learn to co-exist peacefully (China, India & Pakistan), through Confidence Building Measures, over a few decades, we can all start focusing more on the health, education and well being of the poorest in our countries as opposed to spending more and more on militaries. 3.2 Billion Humans would be the beneficiary of such moves. Infact, after resolution of disputes and issues peacefully, we can perhaps even have a NATO like alliance.
 
Instead of spending more and more on weapons and other offensive capabilities; both India and Pakistan need to reconsider their relation and the situation of the combined 1.8 Billion population most of which lives in abject poverty.

If we learn to co-exist peacefully (China, India & Pakistan), through Confidence Building Measures, over a few decades, we can all start focusing more on the health, education and well being of the poorest in our countries as opposed to spending more and more on militaries. 3.2 Billion Humans would be the beneficiary of such moves. Infact, after resolution of disputes and issues peacefully, we can perhaps even have a NATO like alliance.

They make regular statements of taking AJK and the northern areas. They don’t have such ideals or goals.
 

Instead of spending more and more on weapons and other offensive capabilities; both India and Pakistan need to reconsider their relation and the situation of the combined 1.8 Billion population most of which lives in abject poverty.

If we learn to co-exist peacefully (China, India & Pakistan), through Confidence Building Measures, over a few decades, we can all start focusing more on the health, education and well being of the poorest in our countries as opposed to spending more and more on militaries. 3.2 Billion Humans would be the beneficiary of such moves. Infact, after resolution of disputes and issues peacefully, we can perhaps even have a NATO like alliance.
I like your thinking sir
 

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