Discover why China bets on quantum radar to cancel the F-22 and F-35 stealth advantage
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China reportedly started the mass production of a four-channel single-photon detector designed to virtually erase the stealth performance of the U.S. F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.
According to the South China Morning Post on October 14, 2025, China has started the mass production of its “photon catcher,” a four-channel single-photon detector intended for quantum radar applications. The device, developed by the Quantum Information Engineering Technology Research Centre in Anhui, can detect individual photons with extremely low noise, a capability that could allow future radar systems to track even the smallest echoes of stealth aircraft such as the U.S. F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. If confirmed, this photon detector will become the key component of China’s broader attempt to offset U.S. advantages in air combat through advanced sensing and signal-processing technology.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The deployment of quantum radars by China would mean that the F-22 and F-35 could lose much of their stealth advantage, as these radars might detect the faint photon reflections from their surfaces that traditional radar systems miss. (Picture source: US Air Force)
According to the SCMP, China claimed that it has begun mass production of an ultra-low noise four-channel single-photon detector known as the photon catcher, developed by the Quantum Information Engineering Technology Research Centre in Anhui province. The device can detect individual photons, the smallest units of light energy, and is described as a key component for quantum radar systems intended to track stealth aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor. The announcement, reported by Science and Technology Daily, indicates that China has reached self-sufficiency in the production of essential quantum-sensing components. As explained below, the photon catcher’s sensitivity and low noise level enable it to identify the faintest reflected signals in cluttered environments, providing potential advantages in detecting low-observable targets. With its four-channel architecture, it can simultaneously process several streams of data, improving accuracy and reducing error rates.
A quantum radar differs from conventional radar in how it detects and processes reflections from a target. In traditional radar, electromagnetic waves are transmitted, reflected by objects, and then analyzed based on the echo’s strength, timing, and frequency shift to determine range and velocity. A quantum radar, by contrast, transmits one photon from a pair of entangled photons, while the other is kept as a reference. Because these two photons share a unique quantum relationship, the radar can later check whether the returned photon matches its stored twin, thereby confirming that the reflection came from a real object. This correlation test allows the radar to distinguish genuine returns from background noise, even when the signal is extremely weak. Unlike classical radar, which can be blinded by jamming or interference, quantum radar theoretically resists spoofing because no adversary can replicate the exact quantum state of the idler photon. For military users, this could make quantum radar valuable in electronic warfare environments.
The first major component of a quantum radar is the entangled photon source, which generates linked photon pairs at precise frequencies. In most designs, this is achieved using superconducting or semiconductor circuits such as Josephson parametric amplifiers, or nonlinear optical crystals that produce entangled photons through spontaneous parametric down-conversion. These paired photons are divided into two paths: the signal beam, transmitted toward the target, and the idler beam, stored within the radar for comparison. Because quantum states are fragile, generating and maintaining these correlations requires extremely low noise and precise synchronization. The radar also relies on an antenna array or microwave transducer to transmit the signal photons and capture the faint returning photons. Losses in transmission and reflection can quickly degrade entanglement, making the stability and purity of the source critical to performance. This is why the Chinese photon catcher aims to operate at very low noise levels while maintaining a wide temperature range.
The second essential component group includes the quantum receiver and the detection electronics. The receiver combines the returning signal photon with the stored idler to perform a joint measurement that checks for correlation, which is the central process enabling the radar’s quantum advantage. This requires highly sensitive single-photon detectors capable of distinguishing one photon from billions of background photons. The new four-channel Chinese detector fulfills this role by allowing simultaneous detection of multiple photon paths or wavelengths, improving both range and accuracy. Its detection efficiency, reportedly around 90 percent, ensures that almost every photon striking the detector is counted, reducing data loss. The device’s wide operating temperature range, from –50 to –120 °C, enables it to function in diverse environments without cryogenic cooling. This makes it more practical than superconducting detectors that require near absolute zero operation. Its semiconductor architecture also makes it smaller, lighter, and more adaptable to airborne or mobile radar systems.
During operation, the radar transmits the signal photons toward a search area, where some interact with an aircraft or other object and scatter back to the receiver. The idler photons, stored locally, act as a reference against which the returning photons are compared. If the correlation between them is statistically significant, the radar concludes that a real target has reflected the signal. This mechanism enables the radar to differentiate true reflections from environmental noise or electronic interference. The single-photon detector, functioning as the radar’s “eye,” records even the weakest echoes that would go unnoticed in classical systems. Using multiple channels, it can monitor several directions simultaneously, enhancing detection coverage and reducing blind zones. The radar’s classical subsystems—signal processing, tracking, and data fusion—then interpret the measurement outcomes to build a complete situational picture. This hybrid of quantum sensing and traditional processing marks a potential evolution in radar technology.
The principal advantage of quantum radar for defense applications lies in its ability to detect objects that conventional radar struggles to identify. Stealth aircraft are designed to scatter or absorb radar waves, minimizing the reflection that returns to a receiver. Quantum radar, however, focuses on detecting the quantum correlation between transmitted and returning photons rather than the signal’s overall power. Even if a stealth aircraft reflects only a few photons, the radar can identify those by matching them with the retained idler photons. In simple terms, a quantum radar works like a hunter who whispers and listens for an echo only he can recognize, even in the middle of a storm. This means it could detect aircraft that appear invisible to traditional systems, even under jamming or low visibility. It may also offer greater resilience to spoofing or decoy tactics since any artificial signal lacking the correct quantum correlation would be ignored. This potential explains the interest of many defense agencies worldwide.
Despite the promise, quantum radar remains in its infancy due to fundamental engineering limits. Experiments conducted so far have shown detection advantages of around 20 percent compared with classical radar, but only in controlled laboratory settings and at short ranges. Maintaining quantum coherence between signal and idler photons becomes increasingly difficult over distance because of atmospheric scattering, thermal noise, and interference. Quantum memory capable of storing the idler photons long enough for long-range detection is still under development, and most prototypes must operate at cryogenic temperatures to preserve entanglement. The enormous data-processing demand needed to compare billions of photon pairs in real time also remains a bottleneck. China’s new detector addresses one part of this problem by improving sensitivity and reducing noise, yet complete operational systems still require breakthroughs in range, stability, and data handling. For now, quantum radar is best described as a research-driven technology edging toward early industrial readiness.
The weaknesses of quantum radar are a direct consequence of its quantum nature. Quantum correlations are easily disturbed by heat, vibration, and electromagnetic interference, causing signal degradation and loss of accuracy. The radar’s effective range remains limited because path losses reduce the number of photons that return and preserve their entangled properties. Building quantum memories that can store idler photons for the time required by long-distance operations is technically challenging. Furthermore, the radar’s infrastructure is complex and expensive, involving cryogenic cooling, precise timing, and sensitive electronics. Processing correlation data at real-time speeds for large-scale networks is also difficult. These constraints make quantum radar less practical for immediate deployment and more suitable for testing facilities. Engineers worldwide are working to overcome these problems through material advances, photonic integration, and hybrid quantum-classical architectures. Until then, the technology’s operational utility remains theoretical.
If engineers eventually solve these challenges, the consequences for stealth aircraft would be significant. Quantum radar could drastically reduce the effectiveness of low-observable designs that rely on redirecting or absorbing radar waves. This would force aircraft developers to invest more in electronic warfare, decoys, or speed-based defense strategies instead of stealth shaping alone. Integrating quantum radar into sensor networks could give countries a continuous picture of their airspace, combining data from ground stations, satellites, and airborne platforms. Quantum systems might also connect through quantum-encrypted links, sharing information securely and in real time. In the long term, combining quantum radar with emerging 6G-powered electronic warfare systems could allow unprecedented precision in detection and tracking. If achieved, this would shift the balance of modern air warfare from invisibility toward information dominance, where data correlation and speed of analysis matter more than radar cross-section.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
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China reportedly started the mass production of a four-channel single-photon detector designed to virtually erase the stealth performance of the U.S. F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.
According to the South China Morning Post on October 14, 2025, China has started the mass production of its “photon catcher,” a four-channel single-photon detector intended for quantum radar applications. The device, developed by the Quantum Information Engineering Technology Research Centre in Anhui, can detect individual photons with extremely low noise, a capability that could allow future radar systems to track even the smallest echoes of stealth aircraft such as the U.S. F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. If confirmed, this photon detector will become the key component of China’s broader attempt to offset U.S. advantages in air combat through advanced sensing and signal-processing technology.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The deployment of quantum radars by China would mean that the F-22 and F-35 could lose much of their stealth advantage, as these radars might detect the faint photon reflections from their surfaces that traditional radar systems miss. (Picture source: US Air Force)
According to the SCMP, China claimed that it has begun mass production of an ultra-low noise four-channel single-photon detector known as the photon catcher, developed by the Quantum Information Engineering Technology Research Centre in Anhui province. The device can detect individual photons, the smallest units of light energy, and is described as a key component for quantum radar systems intended to track stealth aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor. The announcement, reported by Science and Technology Daily, indicates that China has reached self-sufficiency in the production of essential quantum-sensing components. As explained below, the photon catcher’s sensitivity and low noise level enable it to identify the faintest reflected signals in cluttered environments, providing potential advantages in detecting low-observable targets. With its four-channel architecture, it can simultaneously process several streams of data, improving accuracy and reducing error rates.
A quantum radar differs from conventional radar in how it detects and processes reflections from a target. In traditional radar, electromagnetic waves are transmitted, reflected by objects, and then analyzed based on the echo’s strength, timing, and frequency shift to determine range and velocity. A quantum radar, by contrast, transmits one photon from a pair of entangled photons, while the other is kept as a reference. Because these two photons share a unique quantum relationship, the radar can later check whether the returned photon matches its stored twin, thereby confirming that the reflection came from a real object. This correlation test allows the radar to distinguish genuine returns from background noise, even when the signal is extremely weak. Unlike classical radar, which can be blinded by jamming or interference, quantum radar theoretically resists spoofing because no adversary can replicate the exact quantum state of the idler photon. For military users, this could make quantum radar valuable in electronic warfare environments.
The first major component of a quantum radar is the entangled photon source, which generates linked photon pairs at precise frequencies. In most designs, this is achieved using superconducting or semiconductor circuits such as Josephson parametric amplifiers, or nonlinear optical crystals that produce entangled photons through spontaneous parametric down-conversion. These paired photons are divided into two paths: the signal beam, transmitted toward the target, and the idler beam, stored within the radar for comparison. Because quantum states are fragile, generating and maintaining these correlations requires extremely low noise and precise synchronization. The radar also relies on an antenna array or microwave transducer to transmit the signal photons and capture the faint returning photons. Losses in transmission and reflection can quickly degrade entanglement, making the stability and purity of the source critical to performance. This is why the Chinese photon catcher aims to operate at very low noise levels while maintaining a wide temperature range.
The second essential component group includes the quantum receiver and the detection electronics. The receiver combines the returning signal photon with the stored idler to perform a joint measurement that checks for correlation, which is the central process enabling the radar’s quantum advantage. This requires highly sensitive single-photon detectors capable of distinguishing one photon from billions of background photons. The new four-channel Chinese detector fulfills this role by allowing simultaneous detection of multiple photon paths or wavelengths, improving both range and accuracy. Its detection efficiency, reportedly around 90 percent, ensures that almost every photon striking the detector is counted, reducing data loss. The device’s wide operating temperature range, from –50 to –120 °C, enables it to function in diverse environments without cryogenic cooling. This makes it more practical than superconducting detectors that require near absolute zero operation. Its semiconductor architecture also makes it smaller, lighter, and more adaptable to airborne or mobile radar systems.
During operation, the radar transmits the signal photons toward a search area, where some interact with an aircraft or other object and scatter back to the receiver. The idler photons, stored locally, act as a reference against which the returning photons are compared. If the correlation between them is statistically significant, the radar concludes that a real target has reflected the signal. This mechanism enables the radar to differentiate true reflections from environmental noise or electronic interference. The single-photon detector, functioning as the radar’s “eye,” records even the weakest echoes that would go unnoticed in classical systems. Using multiple channels, it can monitor several directions simultaneously, enhancing detection coverage and reducing blind zones. The radar’s classical subsystems—signal processing, tracking, and data fusion—then interpret the measurement outcomes to build a complete situational picture. This hybrid of quantum sensing and traditional processing marks a potential evolution in radar technology.
The principal advantage of quantum radar for defense applications lies in its ability to detect objects that conventional radar struggles to identify. Stealth aircraft are designed to scatter or absorb radar waves, minimizing the reflection that returns to a receiver. Quantum radar, however, focuses on detecting the quantum correlation between transmitted and returning photons rather than the signal’s overall power. Even if a stealth aircraft reflects only a few photons, the radar can identify those by matching them with the retained idler photons. In simple terms, a quantum radar works like a hunter who whispers and listens for an echo only he can recognize, even in the middle of a storm. This means it could detect aircraft that appear invisible to traditional systems, even under jamming or low visibility. It may also offer greater resilience to spoofing or decoy tactics since any artificial signal lacking the correct quantum correlation would be ignored. This potential explains the interest of many defense agencies worldwide.
Despite the promise, quantum radar remains in its infancy due to fundamental engineering limits. Experiments conducted so far have shown detection advantages of around 20 percent compared with classical radar, but only in controlled laboratory settings and at short ranges. Maintaining quantum coherence between signal and idler photons becomes increasingly difficult over distance because of atmospheric scattering, thermal noise, and interference. Quantum memory capable of storing the idler photons long enough for long-range detection is still under development, and most prototypes must operate at cryogenic temperatures to preserve entanglement. The enormous data-processing demand needed to compare billions of photon pairs in real time also remains a bottleneck. China’s new detector addresses one part of this problem by improving sensitivity and reducing noise, yet complete operational systems still require breakthroughs in range, stability, and data handling. For now, quantum radar is best described as a research-driven technology edging toward early industrial readiness.
The weaknesses of quantum radar are a direct consequence of its quantum nature. Quantum correlations are easily disturbed by heat, vibration, and electromagnetic interference, causing signal degradation and loss of accuracy. The radar’s effective range remains limited because path losses reduce the number of photons that return and preserve their entangled properties. Building quantum memories that can store idler photons for the time required by long-distance operations is technically challenging. Furthermore, the radar’s infrastructure is complex and expensive, involving cryogenic cooling, precise timing, and sensitive electronics. Processing correlation data at real-time speeds for large-scale networks is also difficult. These constraints make quantum radar less practical for immediate deployment and more suitable for testing facilities. Engineers worldwide are working to overcome these problems through material advances, photonic integration, and hybrid quantum-classical architectures. Until then, the technology’s operational utility remains theoretical.
If engineers eventually solve these challenges, the consequences for stealth aircraft would be significant. Quantum radar could drastically reduce the effectiveness of low-observable designs that rely on redirecting or absorbing radar waves. This would force aircraft developers to invest more in electronic warfare, decoys, or speed-based defense strategies instead of stealth shaping alone. Integrating quantum radar into sensor networks could give countries a continuous picture of their airspace, combining data from ground stations, satellites, and airborne platforms. Quantum systems might also connect through quantum-encrypted links, sharing information securely and in real time. In the long term, combining quantum radar with emerging 6G-powered electronic warfare systems could allow unprecedented precision in detection and tracking. If achieved, this would shift the balance of modern air warfare from invisibility toward information dominance, where data correlation and speed of analysis matter more than radar cross-section.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
