As we all know, the electronic warfare aircraft is known as the "golden partner" of fighter jets. Actual combat has proven that with the electronic warfare aircraft, fighter jets can better exert their combat performance. Military experts said that in the current and future air combat environment, electronic warfare aircraft are indispensable models for a country's air power. However, limited by technology and cost, there are currently few aircraft focusing on electronic warfare globally. For a long time, electronic warfare aircraft have been monopolized by the U.S. Navy and Air Force. Its current EA-18G "Growler" electronic Fighting aircraft, there are almost no opponents.
However, with the emergence of China's J-16D electronic warfare aircraft, the situation where the EA-18G "Growler" electronic warfare aircraft was the dominant one is gone forever. According to foreign media, the launch of the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft will make the People's Liberation Army Air Force's fifth-generation stealth fighter J-20 more powerful. At the same time, China's launch of the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft has also made more and more military powers aware of the importance of electronic warfare aircraft. According to Indian media reports, the Indian military plans to develop an electronic warfare aircraft similar to the Chinese J-16D based on the Su-30MKI fighter aircraft .
reported that the Fighter System Development and Integration Center under the Indian Ministry of Defense is conducting technical demonstrations on the feasibility of relevant solutions. According to the Indian military’s vision, the Su-30MKI fighter will be integrated with electronic warfare suites to allow it to maintain fighter capabilities. At the same time, it has the capabilities of an electronic warfare aircraft. The electronic warfare suite contains a communication countermeasures device, an electronic warfare signal receiving device, and an interference pod . Perhaps in the eyes of the Indian military, China can build a successful electronic warfare aircraft based on the J-16 fighter , and so can Indian military industrial enterprises.
The reason is that China's J-16 fighter is developed on the basis of the Russian Su-30 fighter, and the Indian Air Force the Su-30MKI fighter currently in service is imported from Russia. The J-16 fighter is similar to Su-30MKI fighters belong to the same platform. However, in the view of military experts, this logic is obviously wrong. The J-16 fighter jet and J-16D electronic warfare aircraft are similar in appearance to the Russian Su-30 fighter jet, but their internal parts are completely different. China's ability to develop the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft relies on advanced microelectronics technology and superior integration capabilities, which India currently does not possess.
Take the "Tejas" fighter jet made in India as an example. Most of its airborne avionics equipment is imported, and the proportion of domestic equipment is very low. Even though some are domestically produced equipment, their performance is relatively poor and can only reach the point where it is merely adequate. Electronic warfare aircraft have very high performance requirements for microelectronic spare parts. If India cannot produce it itself, it can only import it. However, the Su-30MKI fighter is a Russian-made fighter aircraft. If you want to transform it into an electronic warfare aircraft, you can only use Russian-made electronic equipment. , and microelectronics technology is a major shortcoming of Russian military technology.
If you choose to import it from European and American countries, how to integrate it into the Russian-made fighter aircraft will be very difficult. Military experts said that the Indian military wants to develop a mature and easy-to-use electronic warfare aircraft based on the Su-30MKI fighter, but the probability of success at this stage is relatively low.
