OVERVIEW: The JY-26 Skywatcher-U is a long-range, road-mobile/transportable, 3-D AESA phased array surveillance radar primarily for use  against stealth aircraft.  It operates in the A/B band (NATO) VHF/UHF band (IEEA). 

DETAILS: The JY-26 can detect targets presenting low RCS targets at the VHF and UHF wave bands. The phased array technology also provides the ability to increase the power transmitted at a certain location where a target presence is suspected, increasing the probability of detection of targets.  It is reported to be able to track 500 targets simultaneously.  TThe JY-26 is claimed to have robust anti-jam and electronic counter-countermeasures capability.

The PRC reportedly uses the JY-26 UHF/VHF radar in conjunction with the JY-27A Skywatch-5 VHF-band radar,  YLC-8B UHF-band and SLC-7 D-band active phased-array radar to create a robust network of multi-band, anti-stealth radar network, based on the fusion of data from up to three radars to create a robust kill-chain. The VHF radar performs initial detection of a stealth target, cueing an associated UHF radar in the network, which in turn can cue the higher band radars for targeting.


Specifications:

Frequency: 		  250-350 MHz  (A/B Band (NATO), VHF/UHF Band 			(IEEE))
Power output: 		  ?? kW(average);  ?? kW (peak) 
PRF:			  ?? Hz	
Range Accuracy:		  ??					
On/Off time:		  unknown
Deploy/Stow Time	 	 60 minutes/  ?? minutes
 	
Detection Range:	 	 270 nm (max)


NOTES: IOC: 2015. 


SOURCES: China Uses JY-26 UWB-radar to Track F-22 and F-35 Stealth Fighters. May 14, 2020. https://www.china-arms.com/2016/01/china-uses-jy-26-uwb-radar-to-track-f-22-and-f-35-stealth-fighters/ ; China’s Anti-Stealth Radar Comes to Fruition. November 22, 2014. https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2014/11/22/chinas-anti-stealth-radar-comes-to-fruition/ ; Errymath: Anti-stealth Radars on Display at the Zhuhai Airshow 2016. n.d. https://errymath.blogspot.com/2016/11/anti-stealth-radars-on-display-at.html#.X3S7SGhKiUk ; JY-26 - China’s New Counter Stealth Radar - Defense Update:. December 2, 2014. https://defense-update.com/20141111_jy-26-chinas-new-counter-stealth-radar.html ; "Ancile." Ancile. Accessed June 18, 2022. https://www.deagel.com/Sensor%20Systems/JY-26/a003064. ; "China Claims Its New Anti-Stealth Radars Can Detect the F-22." Popular Mechanics. Last modified November 11, 2016. https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a23846/china-anti-stealth-radars-detect-f-22/. ;"The Tech Route -." Force a Complete News Magazine on National Security. Accessed June 18, 2022. https://forceindia.net/feature-report/the-tech-route/. https://trishul-trident.blogspot.com/2018/12/; "Military Balance India Vs China, Air Defense Systems Part 2- Chinese Radars." Full Afterburner. Accessed July 8, 2022. https://fullafterburner.weebly.com/next-gen-weapons/military-balance-india-vs-china-air-defense-systems-part-2-chinese-radars.


