WHY THIS MATTERS IN BRIEF
China is way ahead of the US and getting further in the lead with new technological developments.
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Following on from many successful terrestrial and space based 6G trials – including the use of 6G to help create better hypersonic weapons – scientists in China have developed a groundbreaking new electronic warfare weapon that utilizes 6G technology. The researchers behind the project claim that the advanced weapon, which utilizes a next-generation signal processing mechanism, is much more powerful than modern military radars.
China is the world leader in 6G technologies. According to a SCMP report, the country holds the world’s largest portfolio of 6G patents.
The new 6G weapon project, led by Professor Deng Lei at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), has reportedly unlocked unprecedented jamming and communications capabilities.
The system targets advanced radar systems, like the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-85, used in the F-35 stealth fighter. That system operates in the X-band at frequencies up to 12 gigahertz.
While traditional countermeasures would struggle against such an advanced system, this 6G weapon can generate over 3,600 false targets to confuse pilots. The system also functions as a ground-based jammer and a high-speed communication hub, transmitting vast amounts of battlefield data to over 300 platforms via optical fibers.
According to the researchers, this marks the world’s first publicly confirmed system achieving “simultaneous same-frequency full-duplex communication and jamming capabilities.”
In a paper published in the journal Acta Optica Sinica, they wrote that “the evolution of 6G technology is driving the convergence of communications, radar and electronic warfare applications.”
Their solution “shows superior signal storage, jamming and transmission performance in a compact, multifunctional architecture, delivering a groundbreaking approach for next-generation electronic warfare.”
The team’s system harnesses microwave photonic systems, blending photons and electrons to surpass electronic limitations. Unlike traditional systems focused on singular functions, this 6G device integrates sensing, analysis, and transmission with minimal power. Its compact design consolidates complex functionalities, once requiring extensive hardware, into a streamlined architecture.
Deng and his team developed a photon-driven core with a tri-dimensional structure. This features a dual-polarization “IQ modulator” for signal processing and jamming, an active fiber loop for precision-delayed false targets, and a smart carrier reconstruction method to spoof radars.
As they continue to iterate upon their design, the team aims to reduce component counts and power consumption at the same time as enhancing signal quality and processing capabilities.
According to the SCMP report, the team has been awarded roughly $10 million in backing by the Chinese government, the military, and Chinese tech companies. The team aims to help consolidate China’s 6G leadership and usher in a new era of warfare technology.
