China mass producing quantum radars to track US stealth jets

China has begun mass production of a novel ultra-sensitive photon detector, described as the world’s first four-channel, ultra-low noise single-photon detector, developed by the Quantum Information Engineering Technology Research Center in Anhui province. This device can detect individual photons, a capability critical for advancing quantum radar technology. Quantum radars leverage the unique quantum properties of photons to detect stealth aircraft, such as the US F-22 and F-35 fighters, which evade traditional radar by absorbing or deflecting signals. By analyzing the quantum state changes of photons reflected from stealth jets, these radars can reveal their positions with greater accuracy, consume less power, and be deployed on various platforms while emitting less detectable energy. China’s new photon detector is significantly smaller—only one-ninth the size of existing single-channel detectors—and enhances the simultaneous detection and tracking of multiple light sources, improving imaging rates and detection range. Previously, China developed a quantum radar with a detection range of about 100 kilometers, and this advancement is