China-Made Military Radars May Have Failed Venezuela During US Raid
The U.S. raid on the Venezuelan capital Saturday, which resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, demonstrated the U.S. retains a technological edge over hardware obtained from its Chinese ally, a senior Taiwanese official said Monday.
The attack in Caracas could mark a reputational blow for Beijing, as the JY‑27A mobile anti‑stealth radars sold to Venezuela, and touted as capable of detecting fifth‑generation stealth aircraft like U.S. F‑22s and F‑35s from over 150 miles away, purportedly failed to give an early warning at the critical hour.
Why It Matters
U.S. forces bombed infrastructure at several spots around northern Venezuela, which Venezuelan officials said killed more than 80 people, including civilians. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were flown to New York City where they face charges related to “narcoterrorism.” Critics say the operation violated international law and possibly U.S. law, pointing out it was launched without prior congressional notification or approval.
Experts say the early morning raid highlighted not only the strength of U.S. intelligence capabilities in Caracas but also the limits, or at least operational effectiveness, of Chinese radar fielded in Venezuela, once considered among South America’s most capable air‑defense networks.
China is seeking to raise its profile as
a major source of international arms.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Pentagon via emailed requests for comment.
This photo taken by Chinese state media shows a JY-27V high-mobility meter-wave air surveillance radar being displayed at the 11th World Radio Detection and Ranging Expo in Hefei, Anhui Province, on May 17, 2025.
Taiwan Vice Defense Minister Hsu Szu‑chien, speaking during a legislative hearing, said the U.S. strike demonstrated American weapons and equipment remain “unmatched.”
However, he added that the most important factors were a lack of adequate maintenance and support for the equipment fielded by Venezuela. “This is very important to us. The equipment needs to be constantly maintained and updated. If the enemy is making progress, we must also make progress.”
His remarks come one week after China launched its latest round of military drills aimed at warning the self‑ruled Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory and has vowed to unify with, through force if necessary.
The Miami Strategic Intelligence Institute, a conservative think tank that promotes democracy in Latin America, characterized Venezuela’s air defense “in critical condition" in a June report, just two months before the U.S. began ramping up its naval presence in the Caribbean with the stated goal of combating drug trafficking operations.
“Over 60 percent of the country’s radar fleet [was] out of commission,” the report said, pointing to a shortage of spare parts and "minimum" technical support from
China, which was said to be providing the parts exclusively through civilian intermediaries. The report based its findings on direct testimonies and confirmed communications among Bolivarian military personnel, cross-checked against maintenance records, technical data and open-source information.
Analysts have noted that even radar systems theoretically designed to detect stealth aircraft are insufficient on their own to defend against them.
What People are Saying
Rick Joe, open-source analyst and longtime commentator on Chinese military developments, on X: "You still need a competent, modern, networked GBAD [ground‑based air defense] as well as multi‑domain IADS [integrated air defense system]."
Eric Hundman, China analyst and director of research at BluePath Labs,
in a March report for the China Aerospace Studies Institute, a U.S. Air Force think tank: “At least 23 countries were found to have received Chinese‑made air defense radar systems, although occasional reports about problems with their capabilities and reliability may indicate PRC [People’s Republic of China] manufacturers are struggling to compete in this sector. Major recipients of these systems include Pakistan, Venezuela, and Egypt.”
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen how the U.S. strike will affect Chinese sales of radar and other defense systems.
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