China's new 'jamming jet' should worry rivals as much as its drones

Even before the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition opened at Zhuhai on Tuesday, analysts and China watchers were in feverish speculation mode.

There were debates on social media and the aviation press on what kind of new drones would be unveiled to the public or whether the world would get a glimpse of a mysterious stealth fighter for the Chinese Navy.

One of the stand-out exhibits on the first day of the Zhuhai airshow was a new high-altitude, jet-engined drone named the CH-6. Qin Yongming, a general manager of drone maker Aerospace CH UAV Co, told AFP the CH-6 can fly up to 15,000 metres. The CH-6 can also carry weapons and fly for up to 20 hours with a maximum range of around 12,000km.

Another Chinese company also exhibited a drone that uses a flying wing design, similar to the US B-2 bomber. Designed by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the GJ-11 carries its weapons (typically air-to-ground missiles and small bombs) in internal bays, reducing its radar signature.

While drones literally make the most buzz, another exhibit at Zhuhai may actually prove to be a bigger worry for security planners: A modified version of the J-16 fighter. The J-16 is a Chinese copy of the Russian-designed Su-30 multi-role fighter.

The aircraft exhibited at Zhuhai was a J-16D, a specialised version of the J-16 meant for electronic warfare. This year's airshow was the first time the J-16D was being displayed in public.

The J-16D shown at the Zhuhai airshow had significant structural differences with standard J-16s. The J-16D had a shorter radome and lacked an infra-red detection system on the nose and 30mm gun that are standard equipment on the J-16 and Su-30.

The aircraft sported a number of antennas and modified pods on its wingtips. China's state-run Global Times reported, "The J-16D is equipped with four jamming pods under its wings and air inlets, as well as two missiles under its belly, in addition to the two electronic warfare pods on the wingtips." 

The J-16D is believed to have made its maiden flight in 2015. Since then, experts have compared the aircraft to the US Navy's F/A-18G 'Growler' electronic warfare aircraft. The Growler is a variant of the Super Hornet fighter.

What is electronic warfare?

In simple terms, electronic warfare deals with countering an enemy's electromagnetic capabilities such as radars, radios and electro-optical sensors, which can be used to detect threats and enable communication. This is typically done by jamming radio frequencies, which would impede a sensor's capability to detect or track a target.

Electronic warfare is as old as electromagnetic communications. One of the first offensive actions by the British in the First World War was the severing of German underwater cables in the English Channel in August 1914.

This action forced Germany to rely on radio and telegraph for communications, which were vulnerable to interception. Electronic warfare reached a greater level of maturity by the Second World War when the allies began jamming Germany's early-warning radars to reduce the chances of bombers being detected.

Once radar systems are jammed, an enemy's capability to launch fighters or surface-to-air missiles against an attacker is impeded. Aircraft like the Growler have also been used to jam mobile phone signals and remotely detonate improvised explosive devices in places like Afghanistan and Iraq.

Why the J-16D matters

Most advanced air forces have electronic warfare pods that are fitted to their frontline fighters. These primarily improve the aircraft's chances of survivability against enemy air defences and airborne early warning aircraft. For example, the Dassault Rafale, in service with the Indian Air Force, has an advanced electronic warfare system called SPECTRA.

But an aircraft customised for electronic warfare can carry a wider range of equipment that is capable of countering a range of different radars and also detect and destroy more targets. Aircraft specifically configured for electronic warfare are considered to be more suitable for 'offensive' operations—targeting radars in enemy territory—than standard multi-role fighters that carry pods.

US defence website The Drive explains "Having multiple pods optimized for different frequency bands offers advantages for attacking specific kinds of electronic threats and systems, such as fire-control radars that typically operate at higher frequencies ranges. Having more than one pod combined with an internal electronic warfare suite could give the J-16D the ability to engage more emitters at once."

The Growler carries anti-radiation missiles that home in on frequencies of radars to destroy them. This is a capability that the J-16D would logically be expected to have.

Wang Ya'nan, an aviation journalist, was quoted as telling the Global Times, "Electronic warfare aircrafts can accompany other warplanes and provide electronic warfare support, for example, conducting electronic jamming or deception. They can also launch direct attacks on hostile radar installations or early warning aircrafts."

Last week, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall warned China was "increasing inventory levels and the sophistication of their weapons and modernizing redundant systems throughout the kill chains that support their weapons". He noted these weapons included, "hypersonic weapons, a full range of anti-satellite systems, plus cyber, electronic warfare, and challenging air-to-air weapons."