If the F-35 story is true then it clearly confirms Chinese involvement. China may have identified the F-35 and relayed the coordinates to Iran and here is how:
· Space-Based Radar (卫星雷达): The "陆地探测一号" (LT-1) satellite group uses dual-satellite "bistatic" radar. This configuration dramatically reduces background noise, making it possible to detect the faint signals of stealth aircraft.
· Satellite Signal Exploitation (卫星信号利用): Researchers have used Starlink (星链) satellites as "illuminators." Stealth aircraft disrupt the signals between the satellite and a ground receiver, and this "forward scattering" effect can be pinpointed .
· Infrared Tracking (红外追踪): A stratospheric airship equipped with advanced infrared sensors can detect the exhaust heat plume of an F-35 from over 1,800 km away. While the detection range drops to ~350 km from the front, it is still significant.
· Signal Refraction Detection: Research suggests the 北斗 (BeiDou) navigation system can detect distortions caused by stealth aircraft in its signals, potentially using these "unique echoes" to estimate the target's position .