Another Piece of the Puzzle: China Builds New Radar Facilities in Spratly Islands○CSIS AMTI (2016.02.23)

China’s airstrip construction at Fiery Cross, Mischief, and Subi reefs, and more recently developments in the Paracel Islands, have dominated the South China Sea discussion. 

But capabilities being developed at its smaller Spratly Island outposts—Gaven, Hughes, Johnson South, and especially Cuarteron reefs—will prove equally important to Beijing’s long-term strategy.  This month’s deployment of HQ-9 surface-to-air missiles on Woody Island in the Paracels, while notable, does not alter the military balance in the South China Sea.  New radar facilities being developed in the Spratlys, on the other hand, could significantly change the operational landscape in the South China Sea.  And along with the development of new runways and air defense capabilities, they speak to a long-term anti-access strategy by China—one that would see it establish effective control over the sea and airspace throughout the South China Sea.

Developments at Cuarteron Reef, the southernmost of China’s occupied features in the South China Sea, are particularly important.  Construction of facilities at Cuarteron seems nearly complete and the artificial island now covers about 52 acres (211,500 square meters).  Two probable radar towers have been built on the northern portion of the feature, and a number of 65-foot (20-meter) poles have been erected across a large section of the southern portion. These poles appear to be a high-frequency radar installation, as was first speculated on The Diplomat, which would significantly bolster China’s ability to monitor surface and air traffic across the southern portion of the South China Sea.  In addition to these radar facilities, China has constructed a buried bunker and lighthouse on the northern portion of the feature, a number of buildings and a helipad in its center, communications equipment to the south, and a quay with a loading crane on the western end of the outpost.

China already has significant radar coverage of the northern half of the South China Sea given its facilities on the mainland and in the Paracel Islands.  And while it might have some coverage of areas further south courtesy of over-the-horizon radar on the mainland, placement of a high frequency radar on Cuarteron Reef would significantly bolster China’s ability to monitor surface and air traffic coming north from the Malacca Straits and other strategically important channels (how much would depend on the specifics of the radar positioned there).  Improved radar coverage is an important piece of the puzzle—along with improved air defenses and greater reach for Chinese aircraft—toward China’s goals of establishing effective control over the sea and airspace throughout the nine-dash line.

How these three capabilities overlap is highlighted in the interactive below.  For illustrative purposes, radar ranges are shown as 300 kilometers from Cuarteron Reef and 50 kilometers from other features known to have likely radar towers.  Fighter ranges are shown based on China’s J-10.  To toggle each layer on and off, click on the dropdown box in the upper-right of the graphic.