The photo at top may be the J-15D Chinese carrier aircraft or the very similar J-16D Chinese airforce aircraft. These perform electronic attack or jamming an art first perfected by the UK and then US (Photo courtesy China's Daily Express )
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COMMENT
Just as the or electronic attackEA-18G "Growler" provides electronic warfare/jamming support to enhance the stealth capabilities of US aircraft China is also developing the J-15D and J-16D EA fast jets to obscure not yet fully developed Chinese J-20 and J-31 stealth fighters.
China's EA aircraft are just two examples of China using the world's second highest defense budget (SIPRI estimates US$228 Billion for 2017) to build the essential military backup capabilities for a formidable defence force. In contrast Russia conventional defence posture may be more threat and propaganda because Russia only has a $66 Billion budget.
There are many synonyms for Electronic Attack including
- Electronic Countermeasures (ECM)
- Electronic Warfare (EW)
- "Jamming" and "Electronic Decoys" and "Window or Chaff" may be the oldest
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a term becoming more popular.
There are many synonyms for Electronic Attack including
- Electronic Countermeasures (ECM)
- Electronic Warfare (EW)
- "Jamming" and "Electronic Decoys" and "Window or Chaff" may be the oldest
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a term becoming more popular.
ARTICLE
The information below mainly draws from China's Daily Express article of April 24, 2018, on the new EA J-15D:
A New Carrier Aircraft With Electronic Attack Capabilities Appears
The Chinese navy (PLAN) has acquired a new type of carrier aircraft, the J-15D. The J-15D is a carrier-based aircraft that mounts electronic attack pods on the tips of its wings, underwings and perhaps centerline. The Chinese navy J-15D is similar to the Chinese Airforce J-16D (introduced in 2015).
The J-15Ds and J-16Ds serve the same purpose as the EA-18G Growler electronic fighter now deployed in the US and Australian defence forces.
[Pete Comment: For other Western countries to get full value out of their F-35s they may well need to purchase equally high priced Growlers!]
[Pete comment: The main difference between the naval carrier J-15D and the airforce J-16D is the
J-15D would have a tail arrestor hook, stronger shock absorbers and some airframe hardening for the "controlled crash" arrested recovery operations. The naval variant J-15D would have also been developed due to commonalities of parts, systems and regular upgrades with China's common carrier jet the J-15.]
[Pete Comment: For other Western countries to get full value out of their F-35s they may well need to purchase equally high priced Growlers!]
[Pete comment: The main difference between the naval carrier J-15D and the airforce J-16D is the
J-15D would have a tail arrestor hook, stronger shock absorbers and some airframe hardening for the "controlled crash" arrested recovery operations. The naval variant J-15D would have also been developed due to commonalities of parts, systems and regular upgrades with China's common carrier jet the J-15.]
The J-15D is a two-seater (pilot and EW officer) fast jet. It carries a variety of new types of pods for reconnaissance, attack/interference and self-defense and can carry Eagle-Strike YJ-91
anti-radiation missiles ARMs. These new pods provide powerful EW capabilities for land based and carrier fighter squadrons.
FURTHER COMMENT
FURTHER COMMENT
Israel has also developed an effective electronic attack capability. Submarine Matters' recounted Israel's 2007 use of Suter Electronic Jamming for Israel's successful Operation Orchid/Out of the Box airstrike against a Syrian nuclear reactor site - see http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2007/10/suter-jamming-our-good-guys.html.
Pete