There are propaganda, misleading AI-generated videos, and misinformation about the capabilities of Chinese and Russian-origin Nebo-M, Nebo-SVU, JY-27A, JYL-1B, and JY-8B radars on the battlefield.
China reverse-engineered the Nebo series VHF radar it received as part of the S-300PMU deals with Russia, and first developed its own VHF radar two decades ago.
Thanks to Twitter propaganda, China’s reverse-engineered JY-27A, JYL-1B, and JY-8B radars, anti-ballistic missile radar, magically become anti-stealth radar that America already jammed in Venezuela and Iran.
Once you read X (formerly Twitter), post after post dedicated to anti-stealth radar and its capability to detect America’s fighter jets, you believe that China’s 90 per cent military hardware is still based on the Soviet Union’s development of a super weapon that detects 0.0001 square meter radar signature travelling at the speed of sound.
You believe the communist country spent $40 billion and failed to develop a reliable Turbofan engine, and that the world’s largest semiconductor importers and European dual-use technology importers know something America does not.
You get goosebumps and feel a surge of dopamine after reading those propaganda posts on X. Maybe China has cracked the code this time.
Behold! I will take you through the engineering behind jamming technologies that render ground-based, shipboard, and air-launch radar inoperable, whether VHF, UHF, Phased Array, or Electronically Scanned Array of Russian and Chinese origin.
What is the US Navy’s EA-18G Growler Aircraft?
The EA-18G Growler is a variant of the Super Hornet family that combines the proven Super Hornet platform with a sophisticated electronic warfare suite. It can disrupt, deceive or deny a broad range of military electronic systems, including radars and communications.
The EA-18G Growler uses the AN/APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar — the same core radar as the F/A‑18F Super Hornet. This radar gives the Growler a powerful situational awareness tool that complements its electronic attack suite.
The upgrades coming to Growlers include the ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band to replace the ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System, sensor upgrades, anti-radiation missiles, and new, longer-range, more advanced anti-radiation missiles.
Growlers can support a wide range of defence tasks and help to reduce risk and improve situational awareness. It provides complementary capability to the Super Hornet and the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter.
The EA-18G Growler integrates the latest electronic attack technology, including the ALQ-218 receiver, ALQ-99 tactical jamming pods, ALQ-227 Communication Countermeasures Set, and Joint Tactical Terminal, Receiver satellite communications.
The ALQ-249, the Next Generation AESA Jamming Pod, is in final development and will succeed the long-serving ALQ-99 pods.
The EA-18 G Growler is optimised for broad-spectrum electronic attack, including VHF radars (typically 30–300 MHz) with very long wavelengths (1–10 m).
AN/APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar
The APG-79 is a solid-stateAESA radar with hundreds of transmit/receive modules. Unlike older mechanically scanned radars, it can steer beams electronically at near-instantaneous speed.
Key characteristics
- High-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging
- Simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-ground modes
- Low probability of intercept (LPI)
- Fast beam steering for tracking multiple targets
The Growler’s electronic warfare system includes:
- ALQ‑218 receiver suite (detects, classifies, geolocates emitters)
- ALQ‑99 or ALQ‑249 jamming pods
- ALQ‑227 communications countermeasures
ALQ-249 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Jamming
The ALQ-249 uses AESA-based jamming, meaning its pod contains electronically steered antenna arrays similar to those used in modern fighter radars. The jammer uses GaN-based power amplifiers, which provide higher output power, Better heat tolerance, and greater efficiency. The More power, the more effective the jamming at longer ranges.
The NGJ-MB was designed with open architecture and ultra-wideband digital synthesis, enabling it to cover a broad range of mid-band frequencies.
The ALQ‑249 is built as a modular pod, making it easier to upgrade or swap components. The NGJ program includes:
- Low-band pod (future)
- Mid-band pod (ALQ‑249)
- High-band pod (future)
This modularity ensures the Growler can tailor its loadout to mission needs. One of the most notable publicly acknowledged capabilities is the ability to conduct cyberattacks.
The AESA array can inject tailored data streams into enemy radar or communication systems. This is essentially electronic intrusion, not just noise jamming.
The ALQ-249 can engage multiple threats simultaneously, thanks to:
- Digital beamforming
- Multi-beam AESA
- High processing power
This is crucial for modern environments where dozens of radars may be active. The ALQ-249 has already been deployed operationally with EA-18 G squadrons in the Middle East, where it was used in real combat missions.
Stand‑Off Jamming (ALQ‑99 Pods)
The Growler’s ALQ-99 tactical jamming pods cover a wide frequency range, including low-band emitters.
How it works
- The Growler detects the VHF radar’s emissions using its receivers.
- The ALQ-99 low-band pod generates high-powernoise or deceptive signals.
- These signals are transmitted toward the radar to:
- Raise its noise floor
- Reduce detection range
- Create false targets (depending on mode)
Deception Techniques
Even at VHF, the Growler can use DRFM-based deception:
Examples:
- Range gate pull‑off (RGPO)
- Velocity gate pull‑off (VGPO)
- False target generation
These techniques confuse the radar’s tracking algorithms rather than simply overpowering it.
Networked Electronic Attack
The Growler rarely works alone.
It can coordinate with:
- EA‑6B legacy systems
- EC‑37B Compass Call
- Ground-based jammers
- Cyber/EW integration
This creates a multi-axis jamming environment, which is especially effective against low-frequency radars that rely on large, fixed antennas.
Kinetic and EW Integration
For VHF radars, the Growler can:
- Locate the radar via passive detection
- Cue weapons (HARM, AARGM) to destroy the emitter
- Support suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD)
This is often more effective than trying to brute‑force jam a powerful VHF early‑warning radar.
The Growler compensates with smart techniques rather than raw power. The EA-18 G Growler can jam VHF radars, but it does so using a combination of:
- Low-band ALQ-99 jamming
- Deception techniques
- Multi-platform EW coordination
- SEAD integration
It doesn’t rely on overpowering the radar; it uses electronic warfare tactics to degrade, confuse, or destroy the system.
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