Technology allows radar to observe moving targets from multiple angles, gain dynamic information – and even identify potential decoy drones
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenAlcott Weiin BeijingPublished: 5:01pm, 13 Mar 2026Beijing is using AI to help its radars better detect low-altitude drones, according to a top Chinese military scientist who cited drone swarm tactics in the US’ ongoing attack on Iran as an emerging pressure on radar.This development was revealed on Wednesday by Xu Jin, a leading air-defence radar expert and a member of China’s top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
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Oil tankers set ablaze by Iranian drones as shipping vessels targeted in Middle East warXu is the chief engineer in the early warning and detection field at the 38th Research Institute of the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), having worked for years on the research and development of air-defence radar systems and leading the development of multiple types of air-defence radars.
The institute is a major research and development body supporting China’s air-defence radar technology, and developed China’s first low-altitude early warning and detection radar.
“When inexpensive suicide drones are deployed, their numbers are usually quite large, making them difficult to distinguish and completely detect,” Xu said.
“Some of them may also have the ability to coordinate and divide tasks. This puts enormous processing pressure on traditional radar detection.”
He was referring to the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, which began at the end of last month, in which both sides have used large numbers of inexpensive suicide drones for attacks.
