Did the Chinese Navy Defeat American Warships in an Electronic Warfare Battle?

A month ago, China and the U.S. engaged in what is being called the first "electronic war" near the Northern Philippines, with reports suggesting that Beijing emerged as the dominant force.

This 12-hour confrontation has drawn significant attention from pro-Western media, OSINT experts, and military analysts. During the incident, the U.S. fleet and aviation faced severe electronic interference, resulting in a complete loss of GPS signals and rendering communication systems ineffective. This situation forced the U.S. Navy to withdraw to avoid further reputational damage, reports claimed.

The event has prompted discussions about the vulnerability of modern naval forces to electronic warfare. Experts compare the loss of communication and navigation capabilities to sensory deprivation, emphasizing its critical impact on military operations.

The confrontation led to increased scrutiny of the U.S. military's technological capabilities. A group of retired admirals and generals is actively criticizing the outdated equipment of the entire U.S. Armed Forces, not just the Navy, claiming it is a whole generation behind that used by the Chinese. In response to the incident, joint military exercises involving 29 countries were conducted in the South China Sea to demonstrate unity and strength.

The U.S. Navy decided to use the maneuvers to plant advanced anti-submarine weapons on the seabed to monitor Chinese submarine movements and further restrict China’s strategic space. Beijing's swift reaction included deploying substantial naval and air forces, showcasing its ability to counter U.S. maneuvers. When a U.S. Navy P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft dropped surveillance equipment in the South China Sea, it was quickly detected by Chinese forces from the local coast guard.

These reports and the timing coincide with an official Chinese statement from late June, which claimed that China intercepted a submarine detector allegedly dropped by the United States in the South China Sea.

Related article: China Retrieves Alleged U.S. Submarine Detector in South China Sea

At this time, a squadron led by the aircraft carrier Shandong appeared on the horizon, and a battle for the equipment began between the U.S. and Chinese fleets. American electronic warfare aircraft arrived at the scene, providing support to their fleet. In response, the PRC deployed a Y-9 electronic warfare aircraft and a Project 815A electronic intelligence (SIGINT) ship.

The Americans deployed Growler and RC-135 aircraft to disrupt Chinese control systems, but the Chinese held out. For 12 hours, electronic signals over the Northern Philippines were disabled, plunging everything into "electronic silence."

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