In a high-stakes game of cat and mouse in the South China Sea, China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has revealed new information about the advanced strategies and equipment Chinese warships use to counter US electronic warfare aircraft, particularly the EA-18G Growler.
The new report, published in the Chinese academic journal Radar & ECM and highlighted by Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, sheds light on a high-profile incident from December 2023.
William Coulter, the commander of US Electronic Attack Squadron 136 (VAQ-136) aboard the USS Carl Vinson, was unexpectedly relieved of his duties.
While the US Navy attributed this decision to a “loss of confidence in his ability to command,” the report suggests that Coulter’s removal might be linked to the US Navy’s struggles in countering Chinese electronic warfare.
PLA officers and sailors aboard the Type 055 destroyer Nanchang were honored for their actions against a US aircraft carrier fleet. Chinese media subsequently broadcast footage showing interactions between two US jets, including one believed to be an EA-18G Growler and the Nanchang destroyer.
The report claims how the PLA Navy has leveraged cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a powerful “kill web” designed to challenge the capabilities of the US Navy’s EA-18G Growler.
The report states that the PLA Navy scientists have, for the first time, shed light on how their modern warships combat the advanced electronic warfare capabilities of the EA-18G Growler, which is a pivotal component of the US AirSea Battle strategy.
Boeing’s EA-18G Growler is renowned for its electronic jamming capabilities, designed to suppress enemy radar and communication systems. Despite its advanced technology and recent upgrades, which include modernization initiatives for its F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet variants, the Growler is not impervious to countermeasures.
Chinese scientists disclosed that the PLA Navy’s Type 055 destroyers, such as the Nanchang, are equipped with sophisticated radars and sensors.
The integration of these systems reduces the effectiveness of Growler’s electronic jamming by enabling them to process large volumes of data. The PLA Navy has demonstrated a noteworthy advancement in its technological capabilities by integrating these two systems and continuing to operate effectively even in the face of electronic attacks.
The intense competition between the Chinese Navy and US Growler aircraft dates back to at least 2018. During the Trump administration, reports indicated that China had deployed radar and communication jamming equipment in the South China Sea.
At that time, EA-18G Growler pilots suspected interference from Chinese systems, though experts debated the extent of the impact on the aircraft’s operational capabilities.
