Chinese scientists have developed a supercooling innovation that boosts the performance of gallium nitride chips used in military radar by 40%. This technology, from Xidian University, enhances radar detection in stealth aircraft without increasing chip size. It also offers wider signal coverage and lower power costs for mobile networks.
Chinese scientists have unlocked a revolutionary supercooling innovation in semiconductor technology, paving the way for a 40 per cent leap in the performance of gallium nitride-based radar systems, widely used in China’s most advanced stealth aircraft such as the J-20 and J-35.
The new Chinese-made chips can handle extreme power loads in the X and Ka bands—frequencies critical for advanced radar systems, satellite communications, and next-generation wireless computer networks.
"This is the most significant breakthrough in this field in nearly two decades," northwest China’s Xidian University said on social media on Tuesday.
Zhou Hong, the project leader at the university, noted that the technology significantly improved the detection range of the radar equipment without increasing the size of the chip. He added that when applied to mobile networks, it provided wider signal coverage and cut power costs.
The innovation, involving the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Xidian University in Xi'an, was published in Science Advances. It positions Chinese radar tech competitively against US systems like the F-22 and F-35, with potential civilian benefits in communications.