The aircraft wake is a special fluid mechanics feature in an air powered aircraft flight, which is strong, stable, with a long duration and with large spatial scales, so it can be effectively detected by radar, laser radar, sonar sensors. The turbulent flow nature of the aircraft wake leads to a unique electromagnetic scattering property, so the radar detection technology of the aircraft wake is of great value in military and civil applications. This paper reviews the state of the art of the international research of the aircraft wake detection technology from three aspects: The aircraft wake electromagnetism computation, the aircraft wake measurement experiment and the aircraft wake detection theory. It is pointed out that the technology had prospective applications in the civil aviation, the anti-stealth detection, the radar anti-jamming, the aircraft carrier takeoff and landing, and the target tracking. The development of the wake detection radar and the principle testing experiment will further promote the development of the airport, and radar anti-stealth technology in China.