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The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Jet jamming: Fighter plane future rests on mastering electronic warfare
The ferocity of the shots fired in the recent India - Pakistan conflict have quietened but the skirmish is already having an impact on global air forces. Jamming devices are now considered essential, experts have told The National. A major investigation among Western powers is under way to understand how potentially three French-built Rafales were lost to Pakistan's Chinese made J-10Cs, alongside the worrying development of long-range aerial warfare. As Russia's invasion of Ukraine is proving, it's not the alluring curved lines of missiles that are essential to survival, but the energy emitted from unseen weapons. 'Operating in high-threat environments, electronic warfare (EW) is a must have, it's not an optional extra any more if you're going to survive in contested airspace,' said Gareth Jennings, air power editor of Janes, the defence intelligence company. As the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts are also demonstrating, modern warfare is evolving at rapid speeds among many weapons systems, with survival dependent on innovation and skill. It should be a wake-up call to nations that need to upgrade their aircraft defences with EW, a British military source said. Aerial prowess The Kashmir clash has demonstrated not only the high level of professionalism shown by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) but also the emerging quality of Chinese-manufactured jets and missiles. The ability of the Pakistanis to operate a complex defence using airborne and ground radar co-ordinating its fighters has already unnerved Western onlookers. 'The West now knows it faces an extremely capable, integrated air and missile defence and it is also clear that China in the air domain is probably sliding ahead of Russia,' said Frank Ledwidge, a former military intelligence officer. The ability of the PAF's J-10C fighters and 'beyond visual range' PL-15E missiles that took down potentially five Indian air force fighters at a distance of more than 100km, has been noted. Once fired, the PL-15E is blasted by a rocket booster to hypersonic speed of Mach 5 (6,200kph) then guided on to its target by the J-10C fighter's radar. In the closing stages, it switches to its Aesa (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar with a second burst of speed being injected 10km from a target, making it difficult to evade. It is unclear if the older generation Indian Rafales were fitted with Aesa that could have allowed them to jam both the Pakistan fighter and the missile in its closing stages with a beam of focused electronic noise. There is also a suggestion that India was totally unprepared for the level of sophistication facing them, with all their aircraft shot down over home territory where they possibly thought they were safe. Worried West The incident is prompting reassessments for major defence companies, not only for Dassault, which makes the Rafale, but also the European manufacturers of Typhoon and US aircraft companies. 'There's a lot of work from an intelligence perspective, trying to understand the capability in terms of the missiles, their range and speed and therefore why the air defences didn't work or didn't prevent it,' a leading defence company insider told The National. Vital to understanding the losses will be how the Rafale's electronic warfare systems worked and the skill of the pilots using them. Like the Typhoon, the Rafale is called a '4.5 generation' fighter, highly capable with good defensive measures and a proven operational capability, but until this month operating against countries without serious air power. Essential to the Rafale's survival against missiles such as the PL-15 are its Spectra (Self-Protection Equipment Countering Threats to Rafale Aircraft) jamming system to protect it against missiles. It is not known to what extent India has Spectra, or if it was used during the engagement, 'but in terms of the Pakistani capabilities, "it certainly shows that they're not inferior to the Indian Air Force in any way,' Mr Jennings said. While India has an earlier version of the aircraft, analysts have stated that the newest F4 variant has greater range, better weapons and significantly more cyber capabilities, and with the Spectra even more jamming power making it 'more defendable' against missiles such as the PL-15. Air advantage The Typhoon will also soon be equipped with the Leonardo-designed Mark Two Radar, which can fire 'pulses of energy against surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles' that would give it greater capability, said military analyst Francis Tusa, editor of Defence Eye. However, he argued that the Rafale F5 model, coming into service in 2028, has also got 'really serious connectivity' that would arguably be greater than the US made F-35. Which introduces the argument that the 4.5 generation fighters might, with the right EW suites, fare as well as the stealth technology of aircraft such as the F-35, which largely rely on radar cloaking to prevent attacks. Once locked-on by a missile it is largely down to pilot skill to avoid destruction, as apparently demonstrated by a US F-35 pilot targeted by a Houthi missile in the recent conflict. None invincible Both Typhoon and Rafale have been on combat operations across the Middle East and North Africa, from Libya to Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and Mali, without any losses. But Rafale has been the only one involved in air-to-air combat. The key now for all countries with expensive 4.5 generation aircraft, costing around $120 million each, will be to equip them for what modern warfare is throwing at them at pace. 'None of these aircraft are invincible, and there's absolutely no reason why a Rafale competently handled using good tactics and a decent pilot shouldn't take down a J-10 or any other aircraft,' said Mr Jennings. Ultimately it is going to be down to small fractions of technological edge or pilot skill that ensures survivability in future aerial combat.
CBS News
24-05-2025
- CBS News
F-16s prepare to delight Coloradans in Memorial Day flyovers
Pilots from the 140th Wing of the Colorado Air National Guard is getting to take to the skies to delight crowds across Colorado in honor of Memorial Day. "A Memorial Day flyover is more than a display of airpower," said U.S. Air Force Col. Christopher "KojaCk" Melka, acting deputy commander, 140th Wing. "It is a solemn tribute to our fallen heroes, a reminder to our community of the sacrifices made for freedom, and a powerful symbol of our unwavering commitment to honor those who gave all." The events start this weekend as the F-16 Vipers plan to fly over the Colorado Freedom Memorial in Aurora at 10 a.m. on Saturday. On Monday, the pilots will make multiple flyovers across the state, including: Fort Morgan Cemetery, Fort Morgan, 10:20 a.m. Homelake Cemetery, Homelake, 10:40 a.m. VFW Post 4031, Durango, 10:55 a.m. Nucla Cemetery, Nucla, 11:05 a.m. Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado, Grand Junction, 11:15 a.m. Grand Lake Town Park, Grand Lake, 11:40 a.m. Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, 11:50 a.m. Olinger Highland Cemetery, Thornton, 11:55 a.m. University of Colorado, Folsom Stadium, Boulder, 12 p.m. Officials said the flyover times are estimates and could be cancelled due to weather. Coloradans may spot the jets between these locations as they head from one to the next. The 140th Wing said the flights serve as training for their pilots, and the events are free to attend.
Bloomberg
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Why China's Fighter Jets Should Worry the US and Taiwan
The recent aerial clash between Pakistan and India offers a glimpse of how China is narrowing the gap in military airpower with the US. It's a warning not just for Washington, but for Taipei, too. Claims from both sides remain contested, but a broader picture is emerging among experts who track China's air force and fighter jet development: Beijing's defense systems are growing increasingly credible. Pakistan said its deployment of Chinese-manufactured J-10C fighters downed multiple Indian aircraft, although New Delhi denies this.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Why China's J-10C 'Vigorous Dragon' fighter jet is having a moment
The Chengdu J-10C jet is a key component of China's air power strategy. The jet is easily manoeuvrable in dogfights. The J-10C is being used in the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict. China's Chengdu J-10C fighter jet, also known as the "Vigorous Dragon," has come to prominence following its involvement in this month's conflict between India and Pakistan. The single-engine, multirole aircraft flown by Pakistan's air force was involved in the shooting down of several Indian fighter jets this week, Pakistan's foreign minister said on Wednesday. Some of the downed Indian aircraft included the French-made Rafale fighter, according to the Pakistan government's news agency. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that India and Pakistan has agreed a "full and immediate cease-fire" following US mediation. About 80% of Pakistan's military gear is made by China. The country received its first batch of the jets — upgraded versions of the original J-10 — in 2022. They can carry bombs, air-to-air missiles, and rockets. Relentlessly upgraded since its debut in the 2000s, the J-10 is Beijing's answer to Western light fighters such as the American F-16 and Sweden's Saab Gripen. The Chinese-designed and manufactured jet could prove to be a game changer on the global arms market. David Jordan, a senior lecturer in defence studies at King's College London, told Business Insider: "Think of the J-10C as roughly equivalent to a late-model F-16, but with some features — like its long-range missile suite — that could give it the edge in certain scenarios." The J-10 was China's first major attempt to produce a modern, homegrown combat aircraft. It entered service in 2004 as the J-10A, a single-engine, multirole fighter with a canard-delta wing configuration — a design choice that prioritizes agility over stability, giving it manoeuvrability in dogfights. The J-10 was designed to be flexible and equally capable in air-to-air combat and ground-attack missions. It can carry a mix of precision-guided bombs, anti-ship missiles, and medium-range air-to-air weapons. While ultimately a homegrown Chinese project, it drew inspiration from abroad, including input from Israeli designers and Russian engine tech. By 2008, the upgraded J-10B had been given a redesigned intake to reduce radar visibility, the addition of a passive infrared search and track sensor, digital radar warning receivers, and a revamped cockpit featuring full-color multifunction displays and a wide-angle heads-up display. The J-10C, which started rolling off production lines around 2015, marked another big step forward. This version introduced an AESA radar — a significant leap that boosted detection range, targeting precision, and electronic resistance. It also brought in datalink systems, satellite comms, missile approach warnings, and tweaks to reduce radar signature even further. The fighter still has a Russian-made AL-31F engine, which is seen as a limiting factor, but more recent versions are reportedly testing the Chinese WS-10 engine. The Pakistan-Indian conflict is one of the first times the jet has been used in live combat. Chengdu Aircraft Company stock soared by more than a third this week on the Shenzhen stock market, suggesting investor confidence in the J-10C. Jordan said: "You may well see a very viable competitor to Western products entering contests for the purchase of new fighter aircraft," added Jordan. That could pose a challenge for Western defence manufacturers, he added. Although the J-10C is not China's most advanced fighter — that distinction belongs to the fifth-generation stealth J-20 — it may well be the most commercially viable. Read the original article on Business Insider
Malay Mail
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Echoes in the digital sky: China's deft transfer of aerial technology in South Asia's rebalance — Phar Kim Beng
MAY 11 — Without warning or ceremony, the strategic geography of South Asia was quietly rewritten. Not with shock and awe, but with silence and symmetry. What occurred in the airspace between India and Pakistan was not just an aerial engagement — it marked the dawn of a new strategic grammar, where data, not dogfights, dictates dominance. Despite mobilising nearly 180 aircraft along its western frontier, the Indian Air Force (IAF) did not cross the 300km threshold toward the Line of Control (LoC). This was no tactical hesitation. It was a strategic recalibration. The skies over Kashmir, once contested with raw firepower, had become a digital domain — monitored, mapped, and manipulated by invisible systems. And at the heart of this transformation stood the steady, subtle hand of China's deft transfer of aerial technology. A shift from muscle to mind Rewind to 2019: India's Balakot airstrike showcased a muscular projection of power. But six years on, the skies no longer reward muscle. They reward method. Pakistan's air defence, enhanced by China's J-10C fighters operating in stealth mode, Erieye early warning aircraft, and satellite-linked targeting systems, had fused into a single coherent ecosystem. Without firing a single retaliatory shot, the Rafale — India's much-vaunted French-made fighter — was electronically ambushed, neutralised before it could see its enemy, let alone shoot. The Rafale, worth over USD 250 million and equipped with the formidable Spectra electronic warfare suite, was rendered obsolete in a sky re-scripted by China's doctrine of asymmetric aerial warfare. In the words of an IAF source, 'We weren't just outflanked. We were out-thought.' From platforms to patterns India's air doctrine had focused on acquiring prestige platforms — the Rafale, the Su-30MKI, the MiG-29. But what unfolded was not a failure of aircraft; it was a failure of imagination. Pakistan's kill chain — built with Chinese inputs — was decentralised, fast, and precise. PL-15 missiles, capable of hitting targets from 300km away, did not require visual confirmation. AI-linked satellite targeting meant the Indian aircraft were hunted without radar exposure. In a phrase: the battlefield had become borderless, invisible, and instantaneous. Trails from an Indian air defence system are seen above Jammu during a Pakistani strike on May 9, 2025. — AFP pic China's fingerprints, not its flag This was not an overt Chinese intervention. There were no J-20s, no PLA insignia. Yet every vector — from sensors to missiles — carried the DNA of Chinese defence industrial capacity. The symmetry of the operation reflected decades of Beijing's quiet investment in digital warfare, electromagnetic dominance, and AI-integrated aerospace command. This was a masterclass in 'strategic invisibility.' While the world looked for signs of direct involvement, China orchestrated a symphony without ever taking the stage. Strategic caution replaces strategic clarity For India, the consequences are psychological and strategic. The IAF is now cautious, flying within a 300km safety margin. The logic is cold: when you cannot see what is tracking you, you retreat into zones of plausible denial. Modi's administration has avoided a wider escalation. France, for its part, remains diplomatically muted as Dassault's stock wavers. Meanwhile, Chinese defence firms — from AVIC to CETC — have quietly gained market capital. Soft power by hard precision. Why Asean should take note This moment is not just about India and Pakistan. It is a warning shot across South-east Asia. The skies are no longer ruled by numbers, but by nodes. For Asean, which has long focused on acquiring platforms — submarines from France, fighter jets from the US, drones from Turkey — the lesson is clear: without integration, data fusion, and digital coordination, these tools are expensive ornaments in a theatre already owned by others. With growing digital militarisation shaping the Mekong subregion and other critical corridors of infrastructure and information, Asean needs to revisit its foundational defence assumptions. It must ask: Are our systems interoperable? Can we detect invisible threats? Do we control our data, or is it already compromised? The rules have changed, quietly What China demonstrated in South Asia was not a new weapon, but a new war logic — an architecture of information, automation, and ambiguity. In a region where territorial disputes, grey-zone tactics, and proxy alignments are on the rise, Asean cannot afford to be doctrinally stagnant. The age of flashy arsenals is over. What matters now is coherence, connectivity, and cognitive warfare. India's setback is not just military — it is epistemological. It reveals the cost of clinging to 20th-century airpower logic in a 21st-century strategic environment. China, without flying its flag, has shown the region what the future of conflict looks like. And that future is already here. *Phar Kim Beng, PhD, is professor of Asean Studies at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). He writes frequently on strategic and geopolitical developments across the Indo-Pacific. **This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
