Technical analysis of the Chinese 6G system of June 18, 2025, designed to jam the radar and communications of the F-35 via false radar signals.
On June 18, 2025, Chinese researchers announced the development of a 6G military weapons system capable of simultaneously jamming the radars and communications of aircraft such as the F-35. This technology combines electronics and photonics to generate more than 3,600 radar decoys in real time in the X band (up to 12 GHz). It also incorporates a full-duplex communication channel, connecting more than 300 platforms via fiber optics. Investment amount: approximately $10 million (~€9 million). This breakthrough could undermine advanced radar systems such as the F-35’s AN/APG-85. The announcement marks a breakthrough in electromagnetic warfare, according to scientists at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. This is the first public application of a military 6G system combining jamming and data exchange on the same frequency, opening up unprecedented possibilities in the field of combat electronics.
The Chinese 6G system: architecture and operation
The military system uses a microwave-photonics architecture: a photonic core that processes jamming and communication functions in real time on the same frequency. It incorporates a dual-polarization IQ modulator capable of generating complex, synchronized signals. An active optical loop creates signals delayed by up to 600 µs, enabling the production of 3,600 false radar echoes that are coherent in terms of time, frequency, and amplitude.
The implementation is compact: a single module simultaneously manages jamming, data relay, and network management tasks. This hybrid photon-electronic design reduces size, power consumption, and electromagnetic interference. This is a major advance over conventional systems, which are limited to a single function per module.
The target band, 12 GHz and above, corresponds to the X band used by AESA radars such as the AN/APG-85, which is fitted to the F-35. Thanks to its full-duplex capability, the system can jam while exchanging data with more than 300 partner platforms via high-speed fiber.
Jamming capability: expected effects on the F-35
Scientists claim that this system is capable of deceiving the AN/APG-85 radar by generating more than 3,600 fictitious targets per flight. Each decoy is calibrated to reflect the same temporal and spectral signatures as real radar echoes, making it difficult to identify and track targets.
Faced with these decoys, the F-35’s algorithms risk being overwhelmed: the sensor fusion system, based on 8 million lines of code, can perceive an overload of erroneous data, compromising detection and guidance. Full-duplex mode at the same frequency invalidates conventional spectral agility and LPI/LPD modulation techniques, which are commonly used to counter jammers.
On the ground, the strategic effect is twofold: targeted jamming of one or more F-35s and a secure communication network between Chinese units without compromising jamming performance. This could undermine the fighter jet’s tactical superiority in a contested electromagnetic environment.
Strategic impact and technical limitations
The announcement marks a turning point in the 6G military competition: China claims to hold the largest portfolio of 6G patents. With $10 million in funding, development has moved beyond the laboratory phase and into industrial testing.
Militarily, the system aims to neutralize the stealth capabilities of F-35 fighter jets by attacking the heart of AESA radars. If deployed, such a system could force the US and its allies to review their rules of engagement and dependence on the F-35 in contested areas.
Nevertheless, technical limitations remain:
- Effective range will depend on transmission power and enemy radar sensitivity.
- Adversaries could develop AI countermeasures to filter out decoys.
- The full-duplex model requires strict synchronization, which is complicated in mobile or contested situations.
- Fiber optics require a connected and protected infrastructure, which is vulnerable to physical attacks.
Military challenges and force adaptation
The latest generation of combat aircraft emphasizes sensor cooperation and data fusion between platforms. A system capable of injecting false signals into this network directly attacks the F-35’s concept of information superiority.
In response, Western forces will need to invest in:
- Spectrum surveillance: sensors capable of detecting 6G signatures and photon-electronic modes.
- Advanced filtering and embedded AI: detecting and rejecting inconsistent signals.
- Redundant electronics and sovereign mission software updates.
- Directed counter-jamming: capabilities that neutralize decoy generators.
A critical issue remains: the tactical viability of the F-35 in contested electromagnetic environments. If this 6G system reaches operational maturity, it will call into question the use of stealth fighter jets in certain conflict scenarios.
Technical and political outlook
This advance is part of a broader effort to transform 6G into a military vector, beyond civilian applications. The integration of detection-jamming-communication functions on the same photonic architecture paves the way for more flexible, less bulky, and more autonomous systems.
China is capitalizing on its 6G patents and its ability to finance military programs on the fringes of large-scale public funding. It is acquiring advanced electronic denial capabilities that are difficult to circumvent using conventional methods.
For Western countries, it is becoming imperative to develop technologies in the same spectrums, coupled with cyber-electromagnetic warfare, to counter this threat. Tomorrow’s battlefield could be determined by spectrum intelligence and sensor network resilience.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.