Pakistan’s J-10C impresses by outmaneuvering India’s Rafale through advanced electronic jamming techniques

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif asserted that on the night of April 29-30, four Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jets were electronically jammed by Pakistani forces near the Line of Control (LoC) in the contested Kashmir region, compelling them to retreat and make emergency landings in Srinagar.

As reported on X, citing Asif’s remarks, the Pakistani Air Force utilized its Chinese-manufactured Chengdu J-10C fighters, supported by sophisticated electronic warfare systems, to interfere with the Rafales’ radar and communication capabilities. Although India has not verified this incident, it has ignited a vigorous discussion regarding the advancements in China’s military technology and its ability to rival Western-designed systems such as the French Rafale.

While the claim remains unconfirmed and may be viewed as propaganda, it prompts essential inquiries into the changing dynamics of aerial combat and the increasing complexity of electronic countermeasures. This reported event unfolded amid escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations, following a terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists, predominantly Indian citizens. India has accused Pakistan of orchestrating the attack, a claim that Islamabad has strongly refuted, as both countries engaged in diplomatic and military maneuvers, including cross-border clashes along the LoC.

Pakistan’s state media, including PTV News, indicated that its air force detected and pursued Indian Rafale jets conducting reconnaissance near the LoC, forcing them to ‘retreat in panic.’ Asif’s claim, supported by reports from outlets like Clash Report, further alleges that Pakistan’s electronic warfare capabilities incapacitated the Rafales’ advanced systems, a development that, if accurate, would represent a notable technological milestone for Pakistan and its Chinese-supplied military assets.

Equipped with a Chinese WS-10B turbofan engine, the J-10C achieves speeds of Mach 1.8 and has an operational range of about 1,250 miles when utilizing external fuel tanks. Its active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, thought to be a variant of the KLJ-10, enhances target detection and tracking capabilities. The aircraft carries a combination of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, including the long-range PL-15 missile, which has a range exceeding 120 miles, and the PL-10, a short-range missile featuring advanced infrared homing technology.

Pakistan’s announcement in December 2021 regarding the acquisition of at least 25 J-10C fighters was explicitly positioned as a response to India’s Rafale program, highlighting the strategic competition that fuels technological progress in the region. A distinguishing feature of the J-10C is its reported incorporation of advanced electronic warfare systems, which Asif claims were utilized to disrupt Rafale jets.

Although specific information about the J-10C’s electronic warfare capabilities is limited due to China’s secretive military technology policies, defense analysts speculate that it may include systems akin to the KG300G or KG600, which are Chinese-developed jammers capable of interfering with enemy radar and communication systems. These systems might utilize digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) techniques, enabling them to capture and manipulate incoming radar signals, thereby creating false targets or overwhelming an adversary’s sensors. Such capabilities would be essential in countering the Rafale’s advanced defenses, particularly its SPECTRA electronic warfare system, designed to shield the aircraft from a variety of threats.

The Dassault Rafale, which has been in service with the Indian Air Force since 2020, is a versatile twin-engine multirole fighter celebrated for its advanced technology. Equipped with two Snecma M88-2 engines, the Rafale can reach a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 and has an operational range of approximately 2,300 miles. Its Thales RBE2 AESA radar provides exceptional situational awareness, allowing it to track multiple targets over long distances simultaneously.

The aircraft is armed with the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, boasting a range of over 90 miles, as well as the MICA missile for close-range combat. The Rafale jets stationed at Ambala and Hasimara air bases feature India-specific modifications, such as helmet-mounted displays and the capability to carry the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, a precision strike weapon developed in collaboration with Russia. The integration of these aircraft into India’s network-centric warfare systems significantly boosts their combat capabilities, enabling real-time data sharing with other platforms.

A key element of the Rafale’s survivability is its SPECTRA system, created by Thales and MBDA. SPECTRA, which stands for Système de Protection et d’Évitement des Conduites de Tir du Rafale, is an advanced electronic warfare suite that incorporates both active and passive sensors, jammers, and decoy dispensers to detect, assess, and counter threats.

The system employs sophisticated algorithms to detect incoming radar and missile signals, utilizing countermeasures like chaff, flares, or directed jamming to mislead enemy sensors. SPECTRA’s active cancellation technology, a closely guarded secret, is thought to produce customized electromagnetic signals that obscure the Rafale’s radar signature, making detection more challenging. This system has received acclaim for its effectiveness against advanced threats, including Russian and Chinese radar systems, and is regarded as one of the most sophisticated electronic warfare suites available on any fighter jet today.

Pakistan’s assertion that its J-10C fighters disrupted SPECTRA is remarkable, as it implies a level of technological capability that questions the Rafale’s status as a nearly invulnerable platform. Electronic warfare entails the use of electromagnetic signals to impair an adversary’s sensors, communications, or navigation systems, often through jamming or deception. For Pakistan to have effectively jammed the Rafale, its forces would have needed to either overpower or outsmart SPECTRA’s countermeasures, a feat that demands precise coordination and advanced technology.

While the onboard jammers of the J-10C could contribute, experts suggest that Pakistan might have utilized ground-based electronic warfare systems, potentially supplied by China, to enhance its aerial capabilities. These systems could generate high-powered signals to overwhelm the Rafale’s sensors, possibly leading to temporary disruptions in its radar and communication operations. The credibility of Pakistan’s claim depends on various factors. Although the J-10C is advanced, it is a relatively new platform with limited combat experience compared to the Rafale, which has participated in conflicts in Libya, Mali, and Syria.

China has significantly increased its investment in electronic warfare in recent years, motivated by its goal to bridge the technological divide with Western nations. Systems such as the KG600, utilized on various Chinese aircraft, are engineered to disrupt radar frequencies over a broad range, which could impact AESA radars like the Rafale’s RBE2.

However, to effectively counter SPECTRA’s adaptive jamming and active cancellation capabilities, a highly advanced and precise strategy would be necessary, potentially involving real-time signal analysis and substantial power output. In the absence of independent verification, such as satellite imagery or intercepted communications, these claims remain conjectural, and India’s reticence on the issue may indicate a strategic choice to prevent escalation or an admission of a minor operational challenge.

If the incident is accurate, it would not be the first instance where electronic warfare has significantly influenced modern aerial confrontations. During the 2019 Balakot airstrike, for instance, India’s Mirage 2000 jets allegedly employed electronic countermeasures to evade Pakistani radar, while Pakistan’s F-16s and JF-17s engaged in a dogfight that led to the downing of an Indian MiG-21. Electronic warfare has emerged as a vital aspect of military strategy, with countries like the United States, Russia, and China making substantial investments in systems to achieve dominance in the electromagnetic spectrum.

The U.S. Navy’s EA-18G Growler, for example, is a specialized electronic warfare aircraft outfitted with the ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer, capable of disrupting enemy radar and communications over extensive distances. Meanwhile, Russia’s Su-35 fighters utilize the Khibiny electronic warfare pod to generate protective jamming zones around their aircraft. China’s progress, as potentially illustrated by the J-10C, indicates it is making strides, utilizing its expanding industrial capabilities to create cost-effective systems that pose a challenge to pricier Western platforms.

Historically, both India and Pakistan have utilized their air forces as crucial tools for projecting power along the Line of Control (LoC). The Kargil War in 1999 featured limited yet intense aerial confrontations, with India deploying MiG-29s and Mirage 2000s to strike Pakistani positions. Pakistan’s F-16s, obtained from the United States in the 1980s, have been a staple of its air force, but the introduction of the J-10C in 2022 signifies a shift towards Chinese technology reliance. This transition mirrors broader geopolitical trends, as Pakistan strengthens its military collaboration with China through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative.

The deployment of the J-10C in Pakistan acts as a testing ground for Chinese military equipment, yielding critical performance data against advanced opponents such as the Rafale. For India, acquiring the Rafale was a strategic decision aimed at countering threats from both Pakistan and China, particularly given the long-term risk posed by China’s J-20 stealth fighters along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.

The alleged Rafale incident, whether true or exaggerated, fits into a broader pattern of psychological and informational warfare, where assertions of technological superiority are used to enhance domestic morale and deter adversaries.

Asif’s remarks, amplified by platforms such as X, may projecting strength to both domestic and international audiences while pressuring India to de-escalate. For the United States, this incident has implications that extend beyond South Asia. China’s increasing capability to produce competitive military systems, exemplified by the J-10C, poses a challenge to the supremacy of Western defense industries, which provide platforms like the F-35 and Rafale to allies globally.

The U.S., operating over 450 F-35 stealth fighters, depends on advanced electronic warfare technologies to sustain air superiority. Systems like the EA-18G Growler and the F-35’s AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda are designed to counter threats from Chinese jammers, but the rapid spread of such technology to countries like Pakistan raises concerns about the global power balance. Furthermore, Pakistan’s adoption of Chinese systems could encourage other nations, especially in the Middle East and Africa, to favor Chinese arms over Western options, affecting U.S. defense exports.

The absence of independent verification complicates the assessment of Pakistan’s claim, yet its implications are significant. If the J-10C did indeed interfere with Rafale’s systems, it would indicate a significant advancement in Chinese aerospace technology, potentially altering perceptions of its reliability and effectiveness.

Regardless of the accuracy of the claim, it highlights the increasing significance of electronic warfare in contemporary conflicts, where mastery of the electromagnetic spectrum can be as crucial as conventional weaponry. This situation also emphasizes the difficulties in verifying information in a time of swift data sharing, where platforms like X can magnify unverified reports, influencing narratives before the truth is known.

For India, this may lead to a reevaluation of the Rafale’s operational procedures and maintenance protocols, ensuring its capabilities are fortified against new threats. For Pakistan, the reported effectiveness of the J-10C, whether genuine or not, enhances its strategic alliance with China, solidifying its position as a significant partner in Beijing’s geopolitical strategies.

For the international defense sector, this incident acts as a crucial reminder: the disparity between Western and Chinese military capabilities is diminishing, and future confrontations may depend on the ability to control the unseen domain of electronic warfare. Is this a pivotal moment in the competition for aerial dominance, or simply another episode in the ongoing saga of unverified assertions between India and Pakistan? Only time, and possibly declassified documents, will reveal the truth.