On January 24th, the J-16D electronic combat aircraft made its first appearance in the airspace of the Taiwan Strait, carrying out the seizure of air superiority electromagnetic rights. It was equipped with a PLA fighter squadron consisting of 8 J-16s, 1 Y-8 anti submarine aircraft, and 2 H-6 bombers. At the same time, the J-16D electronic combat aircraft also participated in air patrols and military exercises. In this military exercise, the J-16 fighter jet took on air combat and ground strikes, while the H-6 bomber carried out long-range precision strikes on the sea and ground. If equipped with J-10 and J-11 fighter jets, they would provide air escort and seize air superiority, while the J-16D electronic combat aircraft played an important role in the formation, taking air superiority in the former and electromagnetic superiority in the latter. In the Gulf War, the United States and other multinational forces easily won the war by relying on their control of electromagnetic power on the battlefield. They elevated the status of electromagnetic power above air, sea, and land control, and gained absolute electromagnetic power, resulting in the complete paralysis of the Iranian air defense system. The US allied forces used all means to seize the initiative on the electromagnetic battlefield, and the seizure of electromagnetic control directly caused Iraq to lose its initiative in air defense and air superiority, putting it in a passive position of being attacked.

Electronic warfare ran through the entire Gulf War, and before the outbreak of the war, American allies and Iraq were competing for the initiative of the electromagnetic battlefield in the Gulf region. In the war, the United States relied on its military equipment advantage and adopted various combat modes to present high-tech warfare and air ground integrated joint operations, reflected in satellite reconnaissance technology, precision guidance technology, electro-optical technology, and electronic warfare technology. Before launching the "Desert Storm" operation plan, allies were aware that winning electromagnetic control was a crucial factor in determining the victory of this war. If Iraq obtained battlefield electromagnetic control, it would cause heavy costs for the allies. Throughout the entire operation, the Allied forces utilized a series of electronic warfare techniques to conduct comprehensive surveillance of the entire Iraqi territory, and launched electromagnetic attacks in all airspace, time domain, and frequency domain. The United States deployed 70 military satellites, including more than 20 high, medium, and low orbit reconnaissance satellites, to conduct 24-hour uninterrupted reconnaissance of important military facilities, radar, communication, navigation, and missile systems in Iraq, to grasp military movements in Iraq. Based on the acquired communication and electromagnetic information, all threats to Allied fighter jets and missiles were inputted into the electronic warfare database of combat aircraft. With the acquisition of Iraqi threat target information, Allied aircraft and radar warning systems, electronic interference systems were all on standby, closely monitoring Iraqi military targets. The US military has deployed electronic intelligence satellites to closely monitor Iraq's electromagnetic activities, and can adopt 24-hour day and night long-term monitoring of electromagnetic activities in the Gulf region. High altitude reconnaissance satellites are deployed to monitor Iraq's electromagnetic activities. The US military deployed U-2R high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft to monitor Iraq's electronic signals, along with five RC-135 electronic reconnaissance aircraft for all-weather reconnaissance, intercepting electronic intelligence from the Iraqi Air Force, ground forces, and air defense forces. After intercepting Iraq's electronic intelligence information, the airborne E-3A early warning aircraft acted as a relay communication hub, transmitting all the information to Allied fighter jets and surface vessels. Overall, the United States uses reconnaissance satellites, electronic reconnaissance aircraft, and airborne early warning aircraft to achieve a cross space electronic reconnaissance system, which is organically integrated with fighter and command forces in all aspects. Allied electronic warfare aircraft and combat planes can conduct tactical reconnaissance at a depth of 150 kilometers along the Iraqi border. The US Navy and Air Force deployed dozens of EA-6B and EF-111A specialized electronic warfare aircraft to use high-power blocking and various interferences against Iraqi radar and passage facilities. Iraq's passage was interrupted, radar could not detect airborne targets, snowflakes appeared on fluorescent screens, and Iraqi ground forces were unable to control fighter jets flying over Iraqi airspace.

Iraqi fighter jets are unable to take off, command and communication systems have been cut off, and electronic systems are in a state of paralysis. The US Navy and Air Force's EA-6B and EF-111A specialized electronic warfare aircraft use electronic jamming to suppress Iraq's air defense network, making it unable to use its firepower. In the early stage of the "Desert Storm" operation, the US Navy and Air Force deployed EA-6B and EF-111A specialized electronic warfare aircraft to undertake long-range interference and close range support, conducting multi-level and multi-faceted soft bomber attacks on Iraq's air defense system, causing communication interruptions, radar blindness, weapon loss of control, and command paralysis, completely putting Iraq in a passive position to be attacked. The EF-111A specialized electronic warfare aircraft is the most advanced electronic warfare aircraft of the US Army in the 1990s. There are 16 of these fighter jets deployed around Iraq, and the core equipment is equipped with 10 built-in ALQ-9E noise jamming aircraft. In the Gulf War, the US Navy gathered 6 carrier battle groups, each equipped with 70-90 combat aircraft, including F-14A and F/A-18 carrier based fighters, E-2C early warning aircraft, S-3A anti submarine aircraft, and 4-5 EA-6B specialized electronic warfare aircraft. Iraq is known as a "Middle Eastern military power" and is equipped with a complete air defense firepower interception system, deploying long-range SA-2 air defense missile interception systems, SA-3 and SA-6 air defense systems at medium and low altitudes, as well as SA-8, SA-9, and SA-13 low altitude interception systems. It can cover the entire border of Iraq, with a range of up to 30 kilometers and a maximum air defense firepower network of 22 kilometers. Overall, its anti-interference ability is poor. Faced with the electronic warfare of the US Navy and Air Force, a large number of EA-6B and EF-111A electronic warfare aircraft have strong interference capabilities. The entire Iraqi air defense radar and communication system are suppressed in all directions, and there is no room for counterattack. Allied forces adopt a comprehensive electronic assault strategy to seize electromagnetic control of the entire battlefield. Prior to the Gulf War, the US military conducted airstrikes on Libya, gaining electromagnetic power and pushing for air and sea control, comprehensively seizing the initiative on the battlefield. In 1986, the US military deployed EA-6B and EF-111A specialized electronic warfare aircraft to interfere with Libya's long-range surveillance radar and surface to air missile guidance radar. The carrier strike group deployed A-7E and F/A-18 carrier based fighter jets to launch military strikes on Libya's surface to air missile system, launching "Hyacinth" missiles to destroy Libya's air defense system. Combat bombers and carrier based attack aircraft used precision guided bombs to strike important targets, which can be called precision "surgical" strikes in electronic warfare.

In the Gulf War, Iraq's entire air defense system was paralyzed under the strong interference of Allied forces. Moreover, its interception range was greatly compressed, and its combat altitude was directly reduced from 20000 meters to 6000 meters, making it difficult to launch attacks on Allied fighter jets. At the beginning of the war, Iraq's air defense combat system was simply a decoration, losing its overall combat capability. The warning radar was blinded, the guidance interception radar dared not turn on, and it lost its battlefield electromagnetic control, which meant losing the entire air superiority. The overall air defense system of Iraq, including radar, fighter jets, and missile equipment, relies entirely on imports, making it difficult to form an efficient air defense interception system. In addition, its electronic warfare and anti-interference capabilities are weak, making it impossible to achieve both offensive and defensive capabilities. Before the Gulf War, Iraq spent several years and invested over 190 billion US dollars to purchase more than 700 Western and Soviet fighter jets and over 9000 surface to air missiles. However, outdated electronic equipment could not change the reality gap, once again proving that modern defense cannot be bought. The EA-6B shipborne electronic jamming aircraft has strong overall jamming capability, equipped with electronic warfare pods, capable of performing long-range jamming and escort jamming. A total of 170 fighter jets were manufactured, equipped with AN/ALQ-149 passage jamming aircraft, and participated in the "Snow White" operation in the Gulf War. The EF-111A electronic warfare aircraft is an improvement on the F-111 fighter bomber, equipped with electronic devices and strong overall electronic suppression capabilities. It is equipped with AN/ALQ-99 tactical jamming system to implement strong electromagnetic interference. This fighter gradually withdrew from the fighter jet sequence, and its combat missions were replaced by EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft. The EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft is a replacement for the EA-6B carrier based electronic jamming aircraft in active service by the US Navy. It is an electronic attack aircraft built on the basis of the F/A-18 carrier based fighter jet by adding electronic devices. It combines the electronic warfare system with the powerful attack capabilities of carrier based aircraft, achieving multiple uses for one aircraft. It has evolved into the carrier strike group "Strike Sword" and deployed 140 of these fighter jets.

The EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft maintains the overall aerodynamic layout of the F/A-18F carrier based aircraft, while emphasizing over the horizon air combat capability and supersonic flight capability. Its external points are the same as those of the F/A-18F carrier based aircraft. After the retirement of the EA-6B carrier based electronic jamming aircraft, the only electronic warfare aircraft of the US Navy is equipped with a "multi mission advanced tactical terminal" and Link-16 data link, playing the role of electronic warfare capability in the network centric warfare system, undertaking comprehensive electromagnetic suppression of enemy air defense system network, and equipped with various anti radiation missiles for strike. The F/A-18F carrier based aircraft is one of the top performing aircraft in the US military with reasonable aerodynamics and advanced overall performance. It has 90% of the same components as the F/A-18F carrier based aircraft, such as two F414 engines, a maximum speed of 1.8 Mach, a maximum takeoff weight of 30 tons, a combat radius of 1100 kilometers, and an AN/APG-79 active phased array radar. Its overall flight performance is not much different from that of the F/A-18F carrier based aircraft. In addition to performing fighter missions, it can carry out anti radiation strikes, undertake "soft strike" and "hard strike" capabilities, and can be equipped with two AIM-120C air-to-air missiles, two AGM-88 high-speed anti radiation missiles, and two AGM-154 joint long-range weapons.

In terms of "soft strike" capability, the EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft is equipped with an AN/ALQ-218 information receiving system and an AN/ALQ-99 jamming pod, combined with an AN/APG-79 active phased array radar, doubling the electronic detection range and jamming capability. Simultaneously equipped with AN/ASQ-228 advanced infrared pod and AN/ALQ-99 agile electronic jamming pod, the AN/ALQ-99 agile electronic jamming pod, as a wideband electronic jamming system, can effectively interfere with electronic magnetic waves ranging from 64 megahertz to 40 gigahertz. The jamming frequency range covers the entire radar operating frequency range, and during the implementation of jamming suppression, it perfectly fits the full frequency range jamming and electronic monitoring for monitoring electronic communication. It achieves "tracking aiming" type jamming, accurately interferes with target emission frequency, and can carry out "precise strike" operations on the electromagnetic spectrum. Suppression and destruction can also be deceived, identified, and located.

The AN/ALQ-214 (V) jamming system is a joint effort by the US Navy and Air Force to develop various electronic deception jamming systems, providing new radio threat protection for escort fighter jets. When performing electronic warfare missions, it can be deployed with multiple ALQ-99 electronic jamming pods and AN/ASQ-228 advanced infrared pods according to different modes. At the same time, it is equipped with 2 AGM-88 anti radiation missiles, 2 AGM-154 attack ammunition, or 2 AIM-120C medium range air-to-air missiles, with strong overall performance. In the 2009 US military simulation exercise, the EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft was equipped with AIM-120 missiles to "shoot down" the F-22 stealth fighter, demonstrating the electromagnetic spectrum combat capability of this electronic warfare aircraft.The J-16D electronic warfare aircraft is a new type of electronic warfare aircraft built on the basis of the domestically produced J-16 fighter jet. Its combat positioning is the same as the current EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft of the US military, and it is responsible for suppressing the opponent's air defense system. It uses electronic interference to target the opponent's air defense radar and focuses on electronic warfare countermeasures. The J-16D fighter jet is different from the J-16 fighter jet. Compared to the J-16 fighter jet, the J-16D has a reduced length of nose radar cover and is equipped with an active phased array radar similar to the AN/APG-79 active phased array radar used in the EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft. The entire active phased array radar moves forward, eliminating the 30mm cannon and infrared search and tracking system. The wing tips are equipped with electronic warfare pods, and the aircraft can be equipped with a total of four large electronic warfare pods. This new type of wing tip electronic pod is similar to the EA-18G "Roar" wing tip ALQ-218 electronic warfare pod, and its function is to detect radar wave frequency and accurately locate the radar.

The J-16D electronic warfare aircraft is developed based on the heavy J-16 fighter jet, with advantages in equipping avionics equipment and electronic warfare pods. The latter has overall performance similar to the US F-15E fighter jet, and compared to the improved Russian Su-30 fighter jet, it uses new avionics equipment and active phased array radar. Its combat mode is the same as the EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft, which uses active phased array radar and electronic warfare pods to achieve detection range and precise target jamming ability. The J-16D fighter jet integrates blocking jamming equipment, and its combat effectiveness will be doubled. It can be equipped with four jamming pods under its belly and wings, surpassing the EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft with three pods. Each pod is targeted at different radar frequency bands, achieving full spectrum reconnaissance and jamming ability, and can counter all current ground attacks. Empty threat.

The J-16 fighter jet itself has strong air to ground, air to sea, and air to air strike capabilities, maintaining the overall combat capability of the J-16 fighter jet. The J-16D electronic warfare aircraft can be equipped with four "Eagle Strike" -91 anti radiation missiles, two Thunderbolt 12 missiles, and one Thunderbolt 15 missile mounted under the fuselage, with a maximum takeoff weight of 36 tons, significantly better than the US EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft in terms of range and combat radius. The J-16D electronic warfare aircraft is equipped with ALQ-218V (2) signal receivers and ALQ-99 (V) jamming pods similar to the EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft. Depending on the combat mission, it is equipped with various functional pods such as electronic reconnaissance, communication jamming, and radar jamming, which can achieve multi band and all-round electromagnetic interference and suppression of "soft kill". It is also equipped with an active phased array radar transmission power of over 10 kilowatts, consisting of 2000 T/R units, surpassing the AN/APG-79 active phased array radar which uses 1400 gallium arsenide T/R transmission modules and 8 kilowatts of transmission power. Similarly, equipped with EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft combat mode, equipped with air-to-air missiles and anti radiation missiles, it can perform "hard strikes" on airborne targets and ground radars.

The J-16D electronic warfare aircraft joined the People's Liberation Army fleet to carry out electronic warfare missions, assuming the role of an "electromagnetic knife and axe operator", disrupting the opponent's communication and information capabilities, disabling the opponent's electromagnetic system, and appearing in the airspace near the Taiwan Strait to carry out equipment patrols. At a time when the US military is building the world's top airborne electronic attack force, the People's Liberation Army is crossing the river with the United States, building a relatively complete airborne electronic attack system in China, implementing all-round and multi means airborne electronic strikes, and suppressing and destroying enemy air defense systems. At present, the EA-18G "Roar" electronic warfare aircraft is an important core equipment of the US military, and the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft will also play the latter role. In the aerial confrontation between the two, the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft surpasses the AN/APG-79 active phased array radar in terms of range and combat radius, and performs electronic warfare capabilities in the Asia Pacific region. The J-16D electronic warfare aircraft can resolve the threat of EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft to the Chinese navy and air force, and its number will reach the level of 140 EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft currently in service in the US military within a few years.

Source: Military of Strong Countries