00:16Imagine flying a stealth fighter over Iran, and suddenly Tehran can see you coming.
00:22Recent reports suggest that Iran may have received China's YLC-8B-3D long-range surveillance
00:30radar, a system designed specifically to detect stealth aircraft, like the F-35 or B-2,
00:37as well as ballistic missiles. If confirmed, this could dramatically strengthen Iran's air
00:44defenses and change the strategic calculations for the U.S., Israel, and their allies.
00:49The YLC-8B is a mobile, high-altitude radar operating in the UHF band. Detection ranges
00:57conventional aircraft, 500-plus kilometers, stealth aircraft, 350-plus kilometers,
01:05ballistic missiles, 700 kilometers. It can be deployed or dismantled in under 30 minutes,
01:12making it resilient against preemptive strikes. If integrated into Iran's air defense network,
01:18it could complement systems like S-300, Bavar-373, and potential HQ-9B acquisitions,
01:26creating a layered early warning shield. First surfaced in early February 2026 via Defense
01:33Security Asia, citing intelligence sources about multiple units delivered to Iran.
01:39Analyses from Modern Diplomacy and Middle East Monitor linked the move to deepening Sino-Iranian
01:46military ties, possibly tied to discounted Iranian oil shipments. Social media, OSINT accounts,
01:54and pro-Iran channels have amplified the story, calling the radar game-changing for Iran's air
02:00defenses. Some articles connect deployment to post-conflict upgrades after Iran's reported
02:0712-day war with Israel in late 2025. Not all experts are convinced. Critics argue low-frequency
02:15radars like the YLC-8B are better for detecting large, high-altitude targets than modern stealth
02:22aircraft in contested environments. Precision for targeting is limited, and systems can be vulnerable
02:28to jamming, decoys, and electronic warfare. No independent satellite imagery or operational photos
02:36have confirmed deployment, leaving the reports unverified for now. If the claims hold, the YLC-8B
02:44could give Iran critical early warning against U.S. and Israeli stealth operations, force adversaries
02:51to rely more on standoff weapons, electronic attacks, or non-stealth aircraft, raising operational risks
02:58and costs. Highlight China's growing role as a strategic partner, providing Iran with advanced
03:05systems amid sanctions and international isolation. Even with a strong radar, air defense is a network
03:12game. Stealth aircraft still operate with satellites, AWACS, and electronic warfare assets.
03:20These are just reports, but it has already stirred international discussion. If the YLC-8B proves
03:27operational in Iran, it could reshape the region's air power dynamics and signal a deeper China-Iran
03:34military partnership. Would this change how the U.S. and Israel operate in the region?
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