The appearance of the Russian Su-34M electronic warfare aircraft caused a lot of heated discussion, not because of its superior performance, but because the Sukhoi group unequivocally claimed that it outperformed the J-16D and EA-18G.
What is even more puzzling is that the Sukhoi group actually attributed the advantages of the Su-34M electronic warfare aircraft to "lighter", which is incredible. Shouldn't electronic warfare machines be heavier in general?In this way, more and more advanced equipment can be carried, so what is the mystery of the advantage of lightness?
Like the two electronic warfare aircraft of China and the United States, the Su-34M is also modified on the basis of the original model, the difference is that Russia chose the Su-34 instead of the Su-35 to take on this task.
The Su-34 is excellent as a "platform".
The Su-34, as a fighter-bomber, was improved from the Su-27 Flanker. While increasing the load, the aerodynamic layout of the model was changed to a certain extent.
Fighter-bombers are generally less maneuverable than fighters, but they have an incomparable load capacity. In the case of the Su-34, its maximum take-off weight reached 45 tons, which exceeds the weight of most current fighters.
Based on the Su-34 and equipped with a large number of advanced electronic warfare equipment, it is logical to create an excellent airborne electronic warfare aircraft. However, Russia clearly emphasizes the advantage of lighter, which is very different from what we perceive.
The word "lighter" pointed out by the Russian side means that their Su-34M electronic warfare aircraft are equipped with lighter electronic equipment on the premise of the same performance advantages. This news is undoubtedly a positive factor for Russia, because the lighter the electronics while ensuring performance, it may mean that they are far ahead in the core technology. It also shows that the "saved" weight can be used to carry more equipment, thereby increasing the combat capability of electronic warfare aircraft.
This lightweight design is not only expected to provide the basis for future improvements, but also to maximize the potential of aircraft improvements. However, given the current level of technology in Russia, it is doubtful that such a level can really be achieved.
In the case of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, if Russia's level of electronic warfare is really so high, the war losses they have suffered on the front line should not be so huge. The core of modern warfare lies in the perception of the overall situation on the battlefield, which is closely related to the level of electronic technology of a country. The more advanced a country's electronic technology is, the richer the information it has on the battlefield, and it may even interfere with the enemy's information-based operations.
Looking back at the Gulf War, the United States relied on its overwhelming superiority in electronic information and lost only more than 200 soldiers to successfully push Saddam's more than 800,000 troops into a desperate situation. The Gulf War was hailed as a model for modern warfare and the beginning of modern warfare, demonstrating to the world the importance of situational awareness. This underscores the crucial role of electronics in conflicts.
On the battlefield of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, in the face of the tenacious defense of the Ukrainian army, Russia appeared slightly tired, and sometimes even suffered a fierce counterattack by the Ukrainian army, which made the entire conflict enter a stalemate.
This scene proves that Russia's level of modern warfare is not as superb as people imagined, and Russia's Su-34M electronic warfare aircraft may not be as good as everyone expects, and we can maintain a certain reservation about this view. Compared with the Russian Su-34M, our country's J-16D electronic warfare aircraft may have an advantage.
As mentioned earlier, there is a significant difference between a fighter and a fighter-bomber, and the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft is carefully modified on the basis of the J-16. With the solid technical foundation of the J-16, the modification of the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft will not be inferior, and it can fly with almost any aircraft of our army at the same frequency, providing it with strong auxiliary support, and effectively improving the ability of the PLA Air Force in modern warfare information operations.
When it comes to the electronic warfare capability of the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft, it cannot be ignored that it is equipped with four electronic warfare pods, which can transmit multi-band clutter for precise interference, and its electronic jamming capability even exceeds that of the American EA-18G. What is even more striking is that the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft not only has excellent electronic combat capabilities, but also retains a certain first-class load capacity, which can carry air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles for powerful counterattacks.
In addition, China's special anti-radiation missiles carried by the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft can track radar waves in real time to achieve source strikes against the enemy, making it more prominent on the battlefield.
It can be said that the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft has become one of the core equipment of our air combat power, and if there is no such fighter, the strength will be greatly reduced.
The J-16D electronic warfare aircraft has become the mainstay of our team's air strategy with its excellent performance, and its pride lies in its superb electronic warfare capabilities. Without the existence of this fighter, I will definitely fall into an obvious weakness.
The J-16D electronic warfare aircraft is even better].
In a comprehensive comparison, the Russian Su-34M electronic warfare aircraft is clearly slightly inferior. Even so, Russia's attempt to regain its former glory by relying on a Su-34M electronic warfare aircraft is an unspeakable luxury.
Russia's current development situation shows that they need not only advanced aircraft, but also opportunities that can lead the rapid development of domestic industry. This is because Russia's level of fighter production has obviously lagged behind for many years, and they still follow the traditional production line method, which is not only inefficient, but also unconvincing in the reliability of the fighters produced.
Russian fighter aircraft production plant].
In contrast, the United States adopted a pulsating production line as early as the mass production of the F22 to produce fighters in an easy way of "building blocks". In terms of industrial assembly technology, the United States completely relies on intelligent equipment, can meet unified standards, and flexibly adjust parameters according to actual needs, which is also the reason for the excellent production capacity of American fighters.
U.S. fighter production line].
Judging by the current state of development in Russia, it is undoubtedly a difficult task for them to achieve industrial transformation in a short time. However, without proactive measures, Russia could find itself in a similar predicament as the Soviet Union, unable to move the country afloat through lagging productive forces, and once again face uncertainty about the fate of the country.
Whether it is the emergence of the Su-34M electronic warfare aircraft, or the Su-75 fighter that may come out in the future, or even those more advanced aircraft, they are all deeply trapped in the shackles of the production line. No matter how advanced the technology is, if large-scale production cannot be achieved, all the discussion will be in vain.