The electromagnetic threat is here, not coming
China has constructed overlapping EW installations across Fiery Cross, Mischief, and Subi Reefs in the South China Sea. CSIS satellite analysis shows at least six paved antenna sites at Mischief Reef, two new radomes at Subi Reef, and five vehicle-mounted jammers connected to fixed antenna arrays. A roofed shelter constructed in 2025 at Subi Reef houses mobile EW units. These systems can jam communications, disrupt radar including AN/SPY-1 on Aegis ships, and geolocate foreign forces operating in the area. The International Federation of Air Line Pilots has issued warnings about Chinese warships conducting GPS jamming across the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, eastern Indian Ocean, and northwest of Australia.
Russia's EW arsenal in Ukraine has reduced effectiveness of GPS-guided weapons by up to 90% and cut drone hit rates in half. The R-330Zh Zhitel jams GPS, SATCOM, and cellular out to 25km. The Krasukha-4 neutralizes LEO surveillance satellites and ground-based radars at 150-300km range and has been used to jam Bayraktar TB2 drone communications. Ukrainian forces have destroyed at least 23 Zhitel systems since February 2022, but Russia continues to deploy them because they work.
Iran claims a 10x increase in drone production since 2025. The Shahed-238 represents a generational leap: turbojet-powered at 500-600 km/h with terrain-contour-matching algorithms and electro-optical terminal seekers capable of autonomous target recognition. Iran is expanding its national network of autonomous drone bases and has developed EW systems for counter-UAV operations.