China’s New 5,000km Radar Near Myanmar Sparks Concerns Over Indian Missile Tests

China has built a new, advanced radar facility in Yunnan Province, near the Myanmar border, significantly boosting its ability to provide early warnings about ballistic missiles.

This Large Phased Array Radar (LPAR) reportedly has a range of roughly 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles), allowing it to monitor a vast area, including the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and a considerable portion of India. The development is being viewed with concern in India, as the radar's capabilities appear to be focused on tracking Indian ballistic missile tests.

The Yunnan-based radar is a crucial component in China’s expanding defense infrastructure. These radars are specifically designed to detect and track missile launches at long distances, offering China an improved ability to observe missile activities in South and Southeast Asia. The facility’s 5,000-kilometer range means it can closely monitor India's missile development program, including tests at Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island, where missiles like Agni-V and K-4 are frequently launched.

The location of the radar is strategically significant. Situated near Myanmar, it provides a clear line of sight across the Bay of Bengal and into the wider IOR, a region where India maintains a significant naval presence. This placement allows China to gather real-time data on missile trajectories, speeds, and ranges—information that can enhance its own missile defense capabilities.

The construction of this radar comes at a time of heightened tensions between China and India. With unresolved border disputes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and competing strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific, both nations have been expanding their military and surveillance capabilities. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has placed a strong emphasis on strategic situational awareness, and LPARs form a critical part of its missile warning and space-tracking network.

China already operates multiple LPAR stations, including one in Korla, Xinjiang, which monitors northern India. The Yunnan facility extends China’s surveillance reach further south, giving it greater visibility over India’s missile advancements. India’s progress in developing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) like Agni-V and its work on hypersonic missile technology likely make it a primary focus for Chinese surveillance.

LPARs, like the one in Yunnan, are highly sophisticated systems. They use thousands of antenna elements to electronically steer radar beams, enabling rapid detection and tracking of multiple targets without requiring physical movement. The reported 5,000-kilometer range is comparable to the U.S. PAVE PAWS radar network, which has a detection range of up to 5,600 kilometers (approximately 3,500 miles).

The radar’s location near Myanmar also raises questions about potential Chinese surveillance operations in the region. China has been known to use neighboring airspace for intelligence-gathering, particularly in the Indian Ocean, where it has deployed research and surveillance vessels in recent years.

Beyond monitoring Indian missile tests, this radar strengthens China’s broader strategic position. It enhances Beijing’s early warning capabilities against potential threats from the IOR, where the Indian Navy operates nuclear-powered submarines armed with ballistic missiles. Additionally, it allows China to keep a closer watch on U.S. and allied military activities in the region, including bases like Diego Garcia and naval movements in the Andaman Sea.

For India, the new LPAR presents a strategic challenge, as it increases China’s ability to monitor and potentially counteract Indian missile advancements. However, it also serves as a motivation for India to accelerate its own technological developments. The Indian military has already been tracking Chinese surveillance vessels operating in the IOR, particularly those appearing around missile test windows. The addition of a land-based radar with such a long-range further complicates India’s ability to conduct missile tests without external monitoring.

India may respond by fast-tracking advancements in its ballistic missile defense (BMD) program, including the Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) and Advanced Air Defence (AAD) systems, designed to intercept missiles up to 5,000 kilometers away. Additionally, India is enhancing its indigenous radar capabilities to counter external surveillance, with significant research and development efforts underway by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

This development underscores the growing technological and strategic competition between China and India. With both nations investing heavily in missile defense, surveillance, and early warning systems, the race for military and technological superiority in the Indo-Pacific is set to intensify in the coming years.