China has provided Iran with its advanced YLC-8B long-range radar system, a move seen as a major boost to Iran’s air defense capabilities amid ongoing regional tensions.

According to security analysts, the new radar addresses critical gaps exposed during previous conflicts, when Israeli and US fighter jets reportedly operated inside Iranian airspace with minimal detection. The induction of the YLC-8B is expected to significantly enhance Iran’s early-warning and aerial surveillance capacity.

The YLC-8B radar is capable of detecting fighter aircraft at distances of up to 500 kilometers and identifying incoming missiles from as far as 700 kilometers. Notably, the system is also designed to track stealth aircraft, a feature considered crucial against modern fifth-generation fighters.

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The radar has been developed by China’s state-owned Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology (NRIET), a leading defense electronics organization. The same institute is known for developing the KLJ-7 radar, which is installed on the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft.

Defense observers say the deployment of the YLC-8B significantly strengthens Iran’s layered air defense network, improving its ability to monitor airspace, respond to aerial threats, and deter potential incursions.

The development also highlights growing defense cooperation between China and Iran, at a time when regional security dynamics remain volatile.

Military experts believe that the addition of such long-range radar technology could alter the balance of aerial surveillance in the region, making future air operations against Iran more complex and risky.