“Chinese YJ-21 hypersonic missiles to attack” an American aircraft carrier and claims to “crash” the US radars.. For the time being an exercise and simulation scenario, but in the future what will happen? In a simulation conducted at a secret research lab in Chengdu, China, scientists demonstrated a hypothetical scenario in which Chinese forces launched hypersonic anti-ship missiles, aided by a space-based electromagnetic weapon system, to effectively target US warships. The simulation was run by researchers associated with the Science and Technology on Electronic Information Control Laboratory, a division operated under the state-run China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, the Hong Kong-based.
According to the scenario the target was a US aircraft carrier strike group sailing at full speed in the ocean. China fired several hypersonic anti-ship missiles, which reached an altitude of more than 200 kilometers (124 miles) before striking the US warships. The missiles went undetected by the carrier group’s radars both during launch and in flight until they were only 50 kilometers (30 mi) away. The simulation also featured the possible use of space weapons by the People’s Liberation Army. The success of not detecting the missile launch was attributed to China’s space-based electromagnetic weapons system, which suppresses the radars of enemy ships.
During the simulation, the Chinese missiles received support from low-orbit electronic warfare satellites strategically placed above the US aircraft carrier. These satellites detected radar signals from US warships and countered similar high-powered signals. This approach ensured that even if the radar waves detected the missiles, the signal could not be distinguished from the strong background noise. According to Chinese researchers, a deployment of two or three satellites could be sufficient to target an aircraft carrier group, while as few as 28 satellites could support a global strike. Meanwhile, the report clarified that the simulation was based on the US military’s SPY-1D radar, which is primarily used by the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to detect long-range anti-ship missiles.
The researchers recommended using two satellites to jointly suppress the same radar from different angles, creating false alerts. They report that as Chinese anti-ship missiles approached within 50 kilometers of the target, the satellites would complete their suppression mission, allowing missile-borne jammers to be activated and terminal maneuvers to successfully destroy targets. On the other hand, the hypersonic missile used in the exercise, although not disclosed, was described as having the capability of unpredictable maneuvers during the terminal phase.
However, the reported range is similar to China’s YJ-21 “carrier killer”. Speeds of up to Mach 10 are claimed to be possible, giving enemy air defense systems less than 20 seconds to respond. Additionally, although the researchers did not reveal the platform for launching the missiles in their simulation, military experts speculated the deployment of such weapons on vessels such as the Type 055 destroyer.
Advantages of space-based EW platforms
Space has evolved into a fiercely contested frontier between the world’s military powers, driven by technological advances. Chinese researchers have stressed the critical need to establish space dominance in the coming years. Thus, the country is actively promoting its space weapons capabilities, recognizing the critical role these weapons are expected to play in future conflicts for several reasons.
Unlike electronic warfare aircraft, space platforms have the unique advantage of operating across national borders. This feature allows them to be rapidly mobilized across the globe and allows them to effectively cover a significantly greater combat range compared to their air counterparts. Furthermore, due to their strategic position in orbit just a few hundred kilometers above the Earth’s surface, jamming signals originating from these satellites exhibit a remarkable feature.
Specifically, they “suffer minimal power loss,” a quality that not only enhances their operational performance but also translates into the need for less sensitive receivers and transmitter power. However, Beijing is not the only player in the effort to strengthen EW capabilities in space. Both the United States and Russia have devoted significant resources to improving their capability in space-based technologies.
Last year, the US Space Force completed its largest-ever exercise focused on electromagnetic warfare. This exercise mainly revolved around the protection of vital points within the electromagnetic spectrum – an essential area that includes elements ranging from radar to communication waveforms. Overall, the growing importance of Space Electronic Warfare (EW) is clear as nations actively seek to develop operational systems that can prevent adversaries from using their space assets.
