Electronic Warfare Goes Quantum
By John Oncea, Editor
Quantum technologies could revolutionize warfare and defense, enhancing military operations through quantum computing, the internet, cyber warfare, communication, and advanced sensing.
The South China Sea (SCS), due to its importance in the flow of oil and commerce to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, plays a key role in the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) security considerations across East Asia. According to Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China, the DoDs 2023 Report to Congress, the People's Republic of China (PRC) “claims sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel Islands and other land features within its ambiguous self-proclaimed ‘nine-dash line,’ claims disputed in whole or part by Brunei, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
“Taiwan, which occupies Itu Aba Island in the Spratly Islands, makes the same territorial assertions as the PRC. The PRC continued to employ the PLA Navy (PLAN), China Coast Guard, and maritime militia to patrol the region throughout 2022. In response to China’s continued assertive actions, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam have publicly rejected the PRC’s nine-dash line claims and invoked international law supporting their maritime sovereign rights.”
As the U.S. escalates its involvement in Sino-Philippine territorial disputes surrounding the Second Thomas Shoal of the Straly Islands in the SCS, reports of an intensive electronic warfare (EW) battle between the U.S. Navy and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy have been reported (but not officially confirmed), according to Military Watch Magazine.
The EW “engagements reportedly lasted twelve hours in the northern Philippines, and as a result American warships ‘faced an unprecedented crisis — screens full of static and a total loss of GPS signals,’ with the fleet withdrawing due to the serious disruption of communication and navigation capabilities.”
As a result, William Coulter, the commander of the U.S. Electronic Attack Squadron 136 (VAQ-136) aboard the U.S.S. Carl Vinson, was unexpectedly relieved of his duties, writes The EurAsian Times. The official reason was a “loss of confidence in his ability to command,” but there are suggestions that the decision was linked to the U.S. Navy’s struggles in countering Chinese EW capabilities.
If those suggestions are true, how Coulter was at fault remains a mystery. After all, it isn’t his fault the PLA’s “surface combatants are on average decades newer than their American counterparts, with the bulk of its fleet being composed of ship classes first commissioned in the late 2010s, where the U.S. Navy’s newest widely used surface combatant the Arleigh Burke Class has been in commission since 1991,” according to Military Watch Magazine.
Regardless of who takes the fall for the U.S.’s withdrawal, the PLA’s EW capabilities have stimulated growing interest in the U.S. to acquire a new generation of assets including a new class of destroyers. However, “Issues with the Littoral Class combat ship and Zumwalt Class destroyer leading both programs to be considered abject failures has raised questions regarding industry’s ability to develop a next-generation destroyer,” writes Military Watch Magazine. “As a result, new Chinese ships such as the Type 055 Class are expected to remain unrivaled for the foreseeable future.”
The U.S. Military Is Losing Its EW Edge
Despite recent upgrades to the EA-18G Growler, including modernization initiatives for its F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet variants, the U.S. is reportedly losing its advantages in EW. This decline hinders the nation’s ability to conduct military operations against capable adversaries like China.
Realizing this, the U.S. Air Force has recognized the need to revive its electronic warfare capabilities, which had been neglected post-Cold War, writes Breaking Defense. “We still do hold a technological edge, but it’s a smaller edge than we used to have,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. David Snoddy. “We’re now focused on, let’s bring that margin back.” Efforts include creating specialized units and accelerating updates to EW countermeasures.
Quantum Warfare 101 |
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| Quantum warfare is an emerging field that applies quantum technology principles to electronic warfare (EW) capabilities. Some key aspects of quantum warfare include: |
| Enhanced Sensing And Detection: Quantum sensors can potentially detect and monitor a much broader range of the electromagnetic spectrum with higher sensitivity than traditional systems. This allows for improved detection of enemy communications, radar signals, and other electronic emissions. |
| Wider Bandwidth Coverage: Quantum-based EW sensors can monitor a wider bandwidth instantly, increasing the probability of intercepting fleeting or low-power signals. This capability provides a significant advantage over conventional systems that need to scan through different frequency bands sequentially. |
| Improved Signal Analysis: Quantum technologies may enable more precise signal analysis, potentially allowing for better identification and characterization of enemy electronic systems. |
| Quantum Radar: While still largely theoretical, quantum radar could offer advantages such as higher noise resistance, stealthiness due to low-intensity emissions, and even target identification capabilities. |
| Secure Communications: Quantum key distribution and other quantum communication techniques can provide highly secure channels for military communications, resistant to interception and eavesdropping. |
| Countermeasures Against Jamming: Quantum systems may be more resilient to traditional jamming and spoofing techniques, maintaining accurate detection and communication capabilities in contested environments. |
| Offensive Capabilities: Quantum computing could potentially break current encryption methods, posing a significant threat to secure communications. However, this capability is still years away from practical implementation. |
Several key technologies are being considered to improve EW capabilities, writes Military + Aerospace Electronics. “In terms of general EW technology, cognitive EW is the future,” says RAND Corporation engineer Jonathan Roberts. “Cognitive EW is driving advances in data science and signal processing related to what we field and how we think about data that would have previously been discarded.”
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are also being applied to enhance EW test capabilities, potentially unburdening human operators and improving system performance. And, as defense systems become more autonomous, there is a push toward using higher frequencies that support more bandwidth and lower latency. However, this introduces challenges like higher attenuation and easier disruption.
RF over fiber technology, an approach using fiber optics to transport radio signals between antennas and protected areas thereby offering protection from electromagnetic interference and detection, and modular and adaptable systems (MEMS), a technology to counteract hostile systems targeting command infrastructure, are being developed as well.
Another technology being looked at as an important addition to existing and future EWs is quantum, at the forefront of advanced nations’ long-term defense planning, including the U.S., China, U.K., Australia, India, Russia, Canada, and France.
The Emergence Of Quantum Warfare
Quantum warfare (QW), according to SpringerOpen, is warfare that uses quantum technologies (QT) for military applications that affect intelligence, security, and defense capabilities of all warfare domains, and it ushers in new military strategies, doctrines, scenarios, and peace as well as ethics issues.
According to the Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC), QT has its foundation in quantum mechanics, the first applications of which – Quantum Revolution 1.0 – included nuclear fission, lasers, and semiconductors where the statistical aspects of quantum behavior are exploited. Quantum Revolution 1.0 had and continues to impact all aspects of society, including defense.
Quantum Revolution 2.0, which we are now entering, will exploit “the full spectrum of quantum physics’ so-called ‘strange’ laws at the limits of known physics,” writes JAPCC. “In Quantum Revolution 2.0 we exploit the behavior of individual quantum systems such as the electron, atom, nucleus, molecule, and quasiparticles, (to) improve and sharpen present sensing, communication, and computing capabilities. Although most QT aspects are still in the form of fundamental rather than applied research, we can foresee several highly relevant applications for defense.”
In 2021, as many nations planned to incorporate QT, NATO Defence Ministers endorsed the Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) Strategy to promote a coherent approach to developing and adopting dual-use technologies, including quantum-enabled technology.
“NATO organizations, bodies, and member states are actively studying QTs, both theoretically and experimentally, to cope with the inherent critical technological challenges.” JAPCC writes. “At the 2021 NATO Summit, Allied leaders launched the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), with a branch dedicated to QTs.
“Importantly, QT is a subject of interest in NATO ACT studies. Moreover, the NATO Science and Technology Organization study ‘Science & Technology Trends 2020-2040’ examined the basis and expectations for QT in NATO while the NATO Conference of National Armaments Directors discussed the implementation plan for QT.”
It's important to note that most QT is currently at low Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), which makes it difficult to accurately predict their actual performance, capabilities, potential applications, and timelines. This is known as the Collingridge dilemma, which applies when a) the impacts of a technology cannot be easily predicted until it is extensively developed and widely used, and b) controlling or changing the technology becomes difficult once it has become entrenched.
Quantum Warfare Of The Future
Significant advantages over conventional methods in various military applications will be achieved as researchers make progress in developing QW including in the area of secure communication and encryption.
“Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and quantum communication systems can provide highly secure channels for the exchange of information, resistant to interception and eavesdropping,” according to QUANTUMPEDIA. “These secure communication methods can greatly enhance the confidentiality and integrity of critical military data, ensuring reliable and safe information exchange during missions.”
In addition, QW can be used to counteract enemy jamming and deception techniques. Traditional EW systems can be susceptible to disruption or manipulation, potentially compromising the effectiveness of military operations. On the other hand, quantum radar and communication systems can operate with greater resilience to interference, jamming, or spoofing, maintaining accurate detection and communication capabilities even in contested environments.
QE also can support the development of advanced offensive capabilities. Quantum sensors, such as quantum magnetometers and accelerometers, can be used to detect and track enemy electronic systems, including communication networks, radar installations, or weapon systems. By providing detailed and accurate information about potential targets, QW can contribute to more effective planning and execution of offensive operations.
Furthermore, quantum computing can play a crucial role in the future of EW by enabling the rapid processing and analysis of vast amounts of data. This enhanced computational power can support the development of sophisticated algorithms for the detection, identification, and targeting of enemy systems, as well as the design of advanced countermeasures and deception techniques.
While some quantum sensing technologies are already being assessed, more advanced quantum EW systems are expected to become available within the next 5 to 10 years. That said, transitioning quantum technologies from laboratory settings to practical, field-deployable systems remains a significant challenge. Issues such as size, weight, power requirements, and cost need to be addressed.
As quantum technologies continue to advance, they have the potential to significantly transform EW capabilities, offering new advantages in sensing, communications, and signal processing. However, it's important to note that many of these applications are still in the research and development phase, and their full potential in real-world military scenarios remains to be seen.