Chinese researchers have found a way to track stealth aircraft using radiation emitted by SpaceX's Starlink satellites. By analyzing disturbances in the satellite signals, the team was able to detect objects traditionally designed to avoid radar systems. This development could have significant military implications.
Chinese scientists have developed a technique to track stealth aircraft by utilizing the electromagnetic signals emitted by SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network. This method, which bypasses the traditional weaknesses of radar systems against stealth technology, could potentially change how military surveillance is conducted.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), researchers conducted an experiment where they used a DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone as a test target. By employing a ground-based radar system, they successfully tracked the drone by analyzing disturbances in the electromagnetic waves emitted by a Starlink satellite passing overhead.
Stealth aircraft, like many advanced military technologies, are designed to evade detection by conventional radar. Their unique shapes and materials help scatter and absorb radar waves, making them nearly invisible. However, the Chinese research team suggests that their new method can detect such targets regardless of their shape or material, as it focuses on how objects disrupt electromagnetic signals from space.
This tracking method works when an aircraft or object passes between a Starlink satellite and a ground-based antenna. The object scatters the satellite’s electromagnetic signals, and these disturbances are picked up by radar on the ground, allowing researchers to locate the object. With over 4,500 Starlink satellites currently in orbit, the network provides extensive coverage, opening up new possibilities for global surveillance.
Starlink’s Role in Surveillance
While this method is still in its experimental phase, having only been tested on a low-altitude drone, researchers hope to apply it to more challenging targets, such as high-flying stealth jets. If successful, this could offer new avenues for detecting aircraft that are otherwise difficult to track.
This development is particularly interesting given the Chinese government’s prior stance on Starlink. In 2022, Chinese researchers explored potential ways to disable Starlink satellites, citing concerns over national security. Now, it seems that instead of disabling the satellites, researchers are seeking to turn them into tools for surveillance.
China has already deployed radar systems along its coastlines to detect stealth aircraft, particularly from the U.S. military. The ability to integrate Starlink’s satellite signals into these systems could provide an additional layer of detection, potentially giving China a strategic advantage.
While the research is still in its early stages, it demonstrates how commercial satellite networks like Starlink might play an unforeseen role in military applications. The scalability of this method, particularly whether it can reliably track larger stealth aircraft, remains to be seen. Nevertheless, it represents a significant step toward integrating modern technology into surveillance systems. As satellite constellations grow, their potential uses, including in global security and surveillance, will likely expand. The question remains: How will governments balance the benefits of these technologies with the risks they might pose?
