China-U.S. Electronic Warfare Erupts, Seen as China’s GPS Interference Rehearsal to Counter Land-Based Missiles

There are reports that when the China Coast Guard was salvaging an unidentified object dropped by a P8A in the South China Sea, a U.S. warship attempted to obstruct the operation. In response, China’s Shandong aircraft carrier promptly moved to provide reinforcement. The U.S. urgently deployed an RC-135 electronic reconnaissance aircraft and an EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, while China dispatched a Y-9 electronic warfare aircraft, leading to a direct electronic warfare confrontation between the two sides.

After a 12-hour standoff, the U.S. forces chose to retreat. However, this electronic warfare incident caused a complete disruption of GPS signals in the northern part of Luzon Island, with all communications, phone signals, and other signals completely cut off, plunging the local area into chaos.

It is evident that the Chinese military conducted strong interference with U.S. GPS signals. Given that the Laoag International Airport in northern Luzon is home to a U.S. land-based missile system, this electronic warfare can also be viewed as a rehearsal by the PLA to counter land-based Tomahawk cruise missiles by disrupting GPS signals.

Some may question if interfering with GPS only reduces the accuracy of Tomahawks. Not so. Modern Tomahawk missiles now generally use GPS/INS, that is, satellite/inertial guidance, replacing the original terrain matching guidance. While this guidance method significantly shortens the planning time needed, it relies on GPS positioning to maintain flight altitude. If the GPS signal is disrupted, the missile is highly likely to crash into the ground or sea waves. To avoid this, it would have to adopt a higher cruising altitude, making it easier to detect and intercept. Even if the Tomahawk completes its flight, it would deviate significantly from its target without GPS correction, potentially missing by as much as 1,000 meters.

China possesses advanced airborne electronic warfare aircraft, including the Gaoxin series, J-15D, and J-16D electronic warfare planes. At sea, China operates the 815 and 815A electronic reconnaissance ships.

It can be said that China’s electronic warfare capabilities are now on par with those of the United States. However, it is noteworthy that almost every medium-sized or larger Chinese vessel is equipped with some level of electronic warfare and electronic countermeasure capabilities, a strength attributed to China’s latecomer advantage and its powerful electrical systems. This is precisely what U.S. warships lack.

The U.S. seems to have recognized this disparity, and in recent years, they have focused on upgrading their warships to enhance their own electronic warfare capabilities.