Out of curiosity, what advantages does the 001A radar (panels) arrangement has, over the arrangement used on the Liaoning?
Cheers,
Jovian
The panels appear to sit higher up on the island which will give them a broader view and further range. The panels are also larger which implies both more power, and newer technology than the earlier ones.
This could mean, again, longer rang, and better capability in terms of numbers of targets they can track, and their ability to ferret out smaller and perhaps lower radar cross section targets.
They are probably NOT capable of completely seeing or tracking full latest generations and technology stealth aircraft...but anything they can do will help. Being able to see a "blank" space coming towards you, if you can get anything out of it and then plot whatever you get moving cn imlpy a target. Now whether they can lock onto it ot nor...or even do as much as I just implied is something we simply do not know.
But sitting higher up, and being larger does imply longer range, more power, and the ability to track more targets at the very least.
ANother thing to consider. Some people ask why the US put such a powerful new radar on their new carrier the Ford. That new radar is very impressive and powerful.
But the carrier's weapons systems are all for self defense and relatively short ranged. They have a very stron self defense suite with 3 x 20mm Phalanx, 2 x RAM launchers for close in missile defense and 2 x ESSM launchers for out to mid range defense.
But, with cooperative engagements capabilities, you can probably bet that the info gathered by that radar can be ed to its escorts, who do have much longer ranged missiles.
I would not be surprised to learn that the PLAN is doing something similar.
A Larger platform like a carrier implies more power and more room to allow it to carry a much stronger radar and other defensive electronic systems. It would be natural, if they can, to share whatever they acquire and see with their escorts of they have that capability.
The US does have a demonstrated capabbility to do that.