In an increasingly complex international political environment, the strategic importance of coastal security has become more prominent. In recent years, incidents such as unauthorized entry of British warships into the Taiwan Strait and illegal activities by the Philippines around the waters of Half Moon Shoal and Captain Reef in the Nansha Islands have seriously infringed upon China’s maritime rights and interests. As a critical asset in the national maritime security framework, coastal security radar plays an indispensable role in safeguarding national sovereignty over territorial waters and maritime interests, owing to its technical performance and development potential.

I. Types and Applications of Coastal Security Radar

Real-World Operational Images of Some Products from Wuhan Lakeda Technology Co., Ltd.

1. High-Frequency Surface Wave Radar

High-frequency surface wave radar is an advanced marine monitoring technology known for its over-the-horizon capability, broad coverage, all-weather operation, and cost-effectiveness. It is widely used for continuous monitoring of exclusive economic zones (EEZ) in various countries. Utilizing the propagation characteristics of surface waves, this radar can effectively detect surface targets within a range of 300–400 kilometers. It has been extensively deployed along China’s coast, providing crucial support for wide-area continuous surveillance and early warning.

2. Phased Array Radar

Phased Array Radar (PAR), also known as electronic scanning radar, achieves beam steering by controlling the phase of antenna elements. Since its inception in the 1930s, this technology has evolved continuously in both military and civilian applications and is now widely used for tactical warning and civilian monitoring. With advancements in technology and cost reduction, phased array radar is playing an increasingly prominent role in coastal security.

Real-World Images of Some Products from Wuhan Lakeda Technology Co., Ltd.

The XW/SR237 coastal security radar series developed by Wuhan Lakeda employs an azimuthal phased-array scanning system, featuring rapid scanning, multi-target tracking, and high-precision measurement capabilities. This product line covers ranges from 1.2 km to 8 km and utilizes same-frequency asynchronous signal filtering technology to stably track high-speed targets such as “Da Fei” (large high-speed craft) and speedboats, significantly enhancing target recognition capabilities in complex sea conditions.

3. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

Synthetic Aperture Radar generates high-resolution images of the sea surface by processing echo signals, enabling clear identification of small vessels and floating objects. It is often mounted on aircraft or satellites for periodic inspections of specific maritime areas. In combating illegal fishing, smuggling, and other activities, SAR provides critical maritime situational awareness and evidence support, such as aiding in precise target localization during rights protection and law enforcement operations in the South China Sea.

II. Analysis of Key Performance Metrics of Coastal Security Radar

Detection Range Diagram of the XW/SR237 Series from Wuhan Lakeda Technology Co., Ltd.

1. Detection Range and Accuracy

Mainstream coastal security radars now offer wide-area monitoring capabilities, with high-frequency surface wave radars achieving detection ranges of several hundred kilometers. Phased array radars continue to optimize performance in measuring target distance, azimuth, and elevation. Some advanced models achieve distance accuracy at the meter level and azimuth accuracy at the milliradian level, providing reliable data for precise target positioning and response decision-making.

2. Anti-Interference Capability

In the face of interference from communication signals, ionospheric disturbances, and clutter from adverse weather in complex marine environments, coastal security radars widely employ technologies such as frequency agility, pulse compression, and Moving Target Indication (MTI). These significantly enhance target extraction capabilities in complex electromagnetic environments, ensuring stable and reliable monitoring performance even in communication-dense coastal economic zones.

3. Target Recognition Capability

With the integration of artificial intelligence and big data technologies, radar systems can now utilize deep learning algorithms to train on echo data, enabling preliminary identification and classification of targets such as vessels and aircraft. This greatly improves monitoring efficiency and reduces the burden of manual interpretation. However, challenges remain in recognizing small or camouflaged targets in complex backgrounds, necessitating further breakthroughs.

III. Major Challenges Facing Coastal Security Radar

Schematic Diagram of the Application Environment for Coastal Security Radar

Meteorological interference is one of the significant challenges for coastal security radar. Severe weather conditions such as strong winds, heavy rain, thick fog, and large waves can severely affect electromagnetic wave propagation: heavy rain causes beam scattering and attenuation, thick fog weakens signal strength, and sea clutter interferes with target extraction, increasing the risk of misjudgment. Under extreme weather conditions like typhoons, radar monitoring range and recognition capabilities are significantly reduced, posing a serious test to coastal security.

IV. Future Outlook: Deep Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Radar Technology

Artificial intelligence will be more deeply integrated into coastal security radar systems, enabling real-time analysis of radar echoes and rapid target identification and classification. By building intelligent recognition models, systems can distinguish between various types of vessels and aircraft and even predict their behavior to implement early warnings. AI can also optimize anti-interference strategies by adjusting radar parameters in real time based on environmental conditions, comprehensively enhancing monitoring performance in complex meteorological and electromagnetic environments.

Conclusion

In the face of an increasingly severe maritime security situation, coastal security radar faces significant opportunities and challenges in technological innovation and system construction. By continuously advancing technological breakthroughs and strategic planning, China’s coastal security radar systems will continue to upgrade, providing a solid foundation for safeguarding national maritime rights, interests, and security.

Further Reading