CEIEC Surface Wave-OTH (SW-OTH) Radar (Transmitter)

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Surface Wave-OTH (SW-OTH) radars are used to detect surface ship and low air activity beyond the visible horizon, out to about 300km, although the absolute range is dependent upon atmospheric conditions, system power and the time of day.

The designation of China’s SW-OTH is not known, but reliable reports suggests that she has at least two systems in operation, with one ranged over the Taiwan Straits in 2003.

CEIEC brochures state that China’s SW-OTH system uses FMICW and FMPCW transmissions, which probably translate to Interrupted and Pulsed FMCW.

This system, albeit undesignated, is currently being promoted for export by CEIEC. Two antenna arrays are shown. The single mast may support a Rhombic transmission array whilst the reception array of dipoles appears to be arranged across a bay.

Several dozen technical papers by Chinese authorities have been reproduced in the West concerning OTH systems, including those listed in the footnote (refer book).

Very few pictures of Chinese OTH systems have been made available and those that are, are generally of poor quality. The one above is reported to show a SW-OTH receiver array – across the mouth of a bay – at an unknown location.

Further confirmation of the existence of Chinese SW-OTH systems is supplied by amateur radio enthusiasts (HAMS) intercepts and bearing fixes an example of which is supplied by callsign VE7BZ based in British Columbia, who recorded the radar’s signal on 1st October 2006, 1353 UTC, on 3.795 MHz.40 The detected audio is quite a rasping sound. Additional intercepts from California and Arizona place the emitter on or in the close proximity of Hainan Island, although Google Earth searches have failed to identify the location of this source.

What is reported to be a Chinese SW-OTH site has been identified on the coast southeast of Shencheng, in Zhejiang Province. The transmitter is located at 27º 46’ 58.70” North, 120º 45’ 54.41” East, whilst the receiver is approximately 3km southwest at 27º 45’ 26.88” North, 120º 45’ 04.98” East. The control centre for this site is just 1km northwest of the receiver site and is readily identifiable.

Source: yanziyang.wordpress.com/2014/03/18/pla-air-defence-rada...