Chinese claim they can detect stealth aircraft via Starlink

Chinese scientists claim they can spot any stealth aircraft, even a small drone, using the radiation from Starlink satellites.

Stealth aircraft, such as the F-22 and F-35, are designed to avoid radar detection by using special materials and shapes to reduce reflections of electromagnetic waves. But a Chinese experiment showed that they can be made detectable from space using Starlink.

Chinese scientists successfully used Starlink satellite signals to track a small DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone during a radar experiment in the South China Sea.

According to the South China Morning Post, this new method could be applied to future military technology and stealth aircraft detection.

In the experiment, the drone, which is about the size of a bird, was used to simulate a stealth aircraft.

Drones of this size are too small to be detected by conventional radars. But in the experiment, instead of relying on traditional ground-based radar emissions, the scientists analyzed electromagnetic signals from a Starlink satellite passing over the Philippines to pinpoint the drone's location.

The detection method is based on forward scattering, where an object such as an airplane or drone interrupts electromagnetic waves from a satellite, causing very small signal disturbances, which are recorded and analyzed to determine the location of the object.

This technique does not require a radar to transmit signals, thus making it more difficult for adversaries to detect and engage them. The experiment detected small details of the drone, including rotor movements, despite size and location challenges such as the drone's small antenna and low flight altitude.

The researchers used an unknown algorithm and an unspecified high-performance processor to process the signals recorded by the Starlink satellite. While the method is still in development and not ready for military use, the technology shows potential for detecting drones and stealth aircraft.

With more than 6.000 satellites in orbit, Starlink's satellite network is vast, transmitting high-frequency signals to provide extensive coverage. Although these signals are encrypted and not available to customers in China, the research team managed to build a receiver to receive and process the data.