China's supercooled radar chips may boost stealth jet detection by 40%

Chinese researchers at Xidian University have developed a novel supercooling technique for gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor chips that could enhance military radar performance by approximately 40%. The innovation addresses a critical limitation in high-power electronics—heat buildup—by improving the thermal management at the materials level. By precisely controlling the growth of the bonding layer inside the chip, the team reduced thermal resistance by about one-third, enabling more efficient heat dissipation and power handling. This advancement allows radar systems operating in the X and Ka frequency bands to transmit stronger signals and detect weaker echoes without increasing size or weight, benefiting both military and civilian applications such as advanced aircraft radars and next-generation wireless networks. The breakthrough has significant strategic implications, particularly for China’s stealth aircraft like the J-20 and J-35, which already use GaN-based radars with longer detection ranges than older systems. In contrast, U.S. stealth platforms like the F-22 rely on older radar technology, and upgrades to Ga