Embarrassment For China As US Raid Outsmarts Venezuela's Air Defence System

New Delhi: While the US military raid on Caracas and the capture of Nicolas Maduro sent shockwaves around the world, it also exposed the vulnerability of Venezuela’s Chinese air defence system, dealing the second major embarrassment to China's defence industry in less than a year.

How did Venezuela’s Chinese radars respond during US raid?

During the American attack on Caracas, Venezuela's long-range 3D surveillance radar and the JY-27A anti-stealth radar, both which had been imported from China, completely failed. These radars, touted as ‘stealth hunters’, were blinded by American electronic jamming and failed to detect a single aircraft. 

What was often touted as South America's strongest air defence system became obsolete, much like the failure of Chinese radars in Pakistan when India conducted 'Operation Sindoor' in May last year.

American special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in 'Operation Absolute Resolve'. During this operation, American helicopters and aircraft entered Caracas without any resistance.

What do we know about Venezuela’s radars?

Venezuela had purchased several radars and air defence systems from China.

JYL-1: Long-range (300-470 km) 3D radar for air surveillance.
JY-27/JY-27A: Meter-wave band radar, claimed to detect stealth aircraft (such as the F-35). The detection range is stated to be 300-500 km.
These radars were part of South America's strongest air defence system, along with Russian S-300 and Buk-M2 missile systems.

Chinese media had previously claimed that these radars could track American F-35s from 75 km away. However, they were completely paralyzed in the American attack. The US used electronic warfare aircraft like the EA-18G Growler to jam the radars, rendering them blind. The air defense network was neutralized in the initial attacks.

What is the performance record of Chinese radars?

This is not the first time Chinese radars have failed. During Operation Sindoor in 2025, India easily breached Pakistan's air defences. Pakistan's Chinese radars (HQ-9, LY-80, etc.) failed to detect Indian missiles and drones. India destroyed radar sites in several locations, including Lahore.

Pakistan's Chinese-supplied defense system was rendered blind, just like Venezuela's. The pattern of failure of Chinese weapons in Pakistan, Bangladesh, African countries, and now Venezuela is clear. In real combat, these systems cannot withstand American or Indian electronic warfare.

Why do Chinese radars fail?

Electronic jamming: Countries like the US possess advanced jamming technology that blocks radar signals.
Operator training and maintenance: Many countries lack proper maintenance and training.
Hype vs. Reality: Grand claims are made in the Chinese media, but they fall short in real combat.

This incident raises questions about the reliability of Chinese military equipment. Venezuela's strongest air defense system was rendered useless in a matter of hours. Like Pakistan, Chinese technology disappointed here as well. Countries considering purchasing such weapons in the future will think twice.