Electronic Weapons: Cheap Is Good in China

Archives

February 26, 2006: The Chinese Navy has been using commercial navigational radars on many of its war ships, including many of its most modern vessels. This makes them rather easy targets for US electronic intelligence. Whether the Chinese are using this equipment out of poverty, or as a way to avoid wasting money on custom superior systems, is undetermined. The frugal explanation is the most likely, as the Chinese have a habit for using whatever will work, as long as it's cheap. The Chinese probably believe that it would be futile to try and develop, or buy, a special military navigation radar that could avoid detection by the Americans. They are probably right.

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close