A AN/SPY-1 radar equipped aboard USS JOHN FINN (DDG-113) detected and tracked a target missile, 2018. (Image source: DVIDS)
Get this – a classified lab nestled in Chengdu, China, recently hosted a simulation that peeled back the curtain on China’s budding expertise in space-based electronic warfare (EW).
The scenario? A Chinese military operation unleashed a barrage of hypersonic anti-ship missiles, backed by a space-based electromagnetic weapon system, zeroing in on a US aircraft carrier strike group.
Executed by minds tied to the Science and Technology on Electronic Information Control Laboratory, this simulation doesn’t just entertain; it uncovers China’s strides in space tech and what it could mean for future showdowns.
Undetected Missile Launch and Cosmic Electromagnetic Weapon System
In this make-believe world, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly pulled off a slick hypersonic anti-ship missile launch from a distant 1,200 km away.
These missiles soared to an altitude of 200 kilometers (124 miles), ready to dance on the decks of US warships.
The game-changer? China’s space-based electromagnetic weapon system.
Operating with a “top-down” finesse, this system silenced the radars on escort ships, muffling their ability to spot incoming missiles until a mere 10 minutes post-launch when the threat was just 50 kilometers (31 miles) away.
#China’s secretive lab simulates hypersonic missile attack on #US warship
Get this – a classified lab nestled in Chengdu, China, recently hosted a simulation that peeled back the curtain on China’s budding expertise in space-based electronic warfare (EW).
The scenario? A Chinese military operation unleashed a barrage of hypersonic anti-ship missiles, backed by a space-based electromagnetic weapon system, zeroing in on a US aircraft carrier strike group.
Executed by minds tied to the Science and Technology on Electronic Information Control Laboratory, this simulation doesn’t just entertain; it uncovers China’s strides in space tech and what it could mean for future showdowns.
Undetected Missile Launch and Cosmic Electromagnetic Weapon System
In this make-believe world, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly pulled off a slick hypersonic anti-ship missile launch from a distant 1,200 km away.
These missiles soared to an altitude of 200 kilometers (124 miles), ready to dance on the decks of US warships.
The game-changer? China’s space-based electromagnetic weapon system.
Operating with a “top-down” finesse, this system silenced the radars on escort ships, muffling their ability to spot incoming missiles until a mere 10 minutes post-launch when the threat was just 50 kilometers (31 miles) away.
#China’s secretive lab simulates hypersonic missile attack on #US warship
The laboratory has found a weakness in the radar that the US Navy uses and could overwhelm it with its new space-based technology.
The simulation underlines the savvy deployment of low-orbit electronic warfare satellites playing sky sentinel above the target, harking back to the age-old wisdom of controlling the high ground in warfare.
The Playbook of Space Weapons
Chinese brainiacs stressed the cosmic potential of weaponry, illustrating how satellites could pick up radar signals from enemy warships and counter them with robust signals, painting a scene where missile reflections blend seamlessly into background noise.
Their pitch? A mere 28 satellites could choreograph a global strike, a testament to China’s commitment to elevating its cosmic capabilities.
Worth paying attention to: yesterday, the SCMP reported that a Chinese research lab carried out a simulation of an attack on a US warship using missiles directed from space and protected from detection by a space-based electromagnetic weapon system. /1https://t.co/RxZoW6B2id
The simulation honed in on the US military’s SPY-1D radar, the go-to for the Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in sniffing out long-range anti-ship missiles.
The brain trust’s recommendation? Twin satellites work in tandem to smother the radar from different angles, throwing out false air alerts.
As the anti-ship missiles closed within 50 kilometers, the satellites would wrap up their interference gig, cueing the activation of missile-borne jammers for a successful target demolition.
Hypersonic Missile Play
The hypersonic missile in the limelight, details shrouded in mystery, boasted unpredictable maneuvers during its terminal phase.
Cruising at Mach 10, it left enemy air defense systems with a measly 20-second window to react – a serious headache.
Military soothsayers suspect these hypersonic beasts could soon find a home on vessels like the Type 055 destroyer.
China’s secretive lab simulates hypersonic missile attack on US warship – A Chinese laboratory conducts simulations highlighting a potential vulnerability in US naval defenses, demonstrating the use of space-based electronic warfare and hypersonic missiles in a coordinated… pic.twitter.com/qWjGyvR5DW
Space, once the cosmic wild west, is now a battleground for global military supremacy, fueled by tech leaps.
The Chinese think tank stressed the urgency of dominating outer space, recognizing the edge that space-based electronic warfare platforms provide.
Unlike airborne electronic warfare setups, these satellites operate beyond borders, offering swift mobilization worldwide and an extensive combat reach.
Moreover, strategically parking these satellites just a few hundred kilometers above Earth guarantees minimal power loss for jamming signals.
This efficiency translates to lower demands on sensitive receivers and transmitter power, giving China a hefty leg up in the realm of space-based EW.
Global Chessboard: US and Russia’s Space-Based EW Pursuits
But China’s not the sole player in this celestial poker game.
Both the United States and Russia, giants on the global stage, are funneling resources into ramping up their prowess in space-based technologies.
The escalating importance of Space Electronic Warfare unfolds as nations scramble to counteract adversaries meddling with their space assets.
The recent dip into the Chinese simulation offers a peek into the evolving chessboard of space-based electronic warfare.
As tech strides steer the future of military might, the strategic allure of space-based platforms becomes ever more apparent.
The tussle among global powers in this domain underscores the pivotal role that space-based electronic warfare is poised to play in shaping the outcome of future face-offs.
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