Electronic Countermeasures
"That's not all. We even captured a sentence in Chinese. Though it was only profanity." The general said.
"This evidence alone doesn't prove much." The Air Chief Marshal said.
"No, no, Air Chief Marshal. That is not the point. The political implications are for Prime Minister Kahan to deal with. What you should consider is the operational reality: there are now Chinese aircraft and Chinese pilots in Pakistani airspace."
"But why were foreign nationals given access to Southwest Air Command?" Bifrata said, still angry, his composure not yet restored.
"Because we and our friends share a common objective. The Israeli government sent Major General Amos because he is a first-rate electronic-warfare specialist. He arrived ahead of schedule to study Pakistani communications and electronic-surveillance methods. His equipment will arrive in stages over the next month. Major General Amos's mission is to ensure that your air force can safely penetrate deep into Pakistan and destroy their nuclear-weapons production potential. Our friends are deeply concerned that Pakistani nuclear materials might be transferred to other Muslim states, or even to organisations like al-Qaeda."
"Minister, the Khushab plan was—"
"No. The strike was the Prime Minister's idea. He has always believed that Pakistan's plutonium supply should be cut off in the war's opening phase. That has been his foremost concern." Singh said. "However, we have long maintained an intelligence exchange with the Israeli military. Ten years ago, while tracking the underground trade in European centrifuge components, they found leads that led their imagery analysts to satellite photographs of secretly constructed heavy-water reactors. These facilities were not registered with the IAEA and were subject to counter-satellite camouflage; highly suspicious. Director Chaman, until a month ago, believed Pakistan's principal nuclear site was Karachi. It was only after our friends came forward that the Prime Minister decided to strike."
"The centrifuge equipment is near the reactor complex?" Bifrata asked.
"Confirmed." Amos stepped closer. "We share your country's concern that a secular Islamic state's nuclear materials might fall into extremist hands. We would like to cooperate with your air force. But we will not interfere with your professional command; we offer only intelligence and technical support in electronic warfare."
"Such as?" Amos's words had caught Bifrata's interest. His manner toward the Israeli shifted noticeably.
"For instance: Pakistan's Erieye system.1 I know it is the tactical air force's greatest headache. India currently cannot effectively jam it."
"Correct. We have no standoff jamming capability. We can only use aircraft-mounted ECM pods."
"But that forces the jamming aircraft inside the range of ground-based weapons. We have studied your procurement records for the past decade and understand the problem well. Our latest high-power electronic-countermeasures suite can completely paralyse communications around the Pakistani AWACS and effectively suppress both airborne and ground-based fire-control radars."
"How powerful?"
"The system is not a simple multi-band jammer. The full package comprises a wideband jamming pod, an electronic-deception pod with a ram-air turbine generator, and an all-weather reconnaissance pod. Installed on a Su-30, it would occupy three to four hardpoints. Effective suppression range, conservatively, approaches eighty per cent of the Growler's."2
"When does the equipment arrive?" the Air Chief Marshal asked eagerly.
"Before 10 May. You provide a Su-30 airframe and crew for integration and training. The equipment is heavy; only the Su-30 can carry it."
"You guarantee it'll fly?"
"We used a conformal-pod design. We flight-tested it on a second-hand Su-27 obtained from Ethiopia. I guarantee that with minimal pilot training, there will be no problems."
"Excellent." The Air Chief Marshal very nearly shouted. He was almost beside himself; this was exactly what he had been dreaming of.
"Air Chief Marshal, one recommendation. I suggest the Indian Air Force refrain from any deep-penetration strikes until this aircraft is ready. It's simply too dangerous." The shrewd Amos used this remark to imply that yesterday's raid had not been Israel's idea, neatly distancing himself from the failure.
When Bifrata and Singh walked out of the conference room together, the Air Chief Marshal's mood had markedly improved. He had Amos's verbal assurance of support, and not only in electronic warfare; once the conversation warmed up, Amos had even hinted that he could arrange for tactical information on the F-16 to be shared, since Israel also operated the type. Selling such information violated commercial norms, but the Israelis never seemed particularly afraid of offending the Americans.
"I told you this trip wouldn't disappoint." Singh walked alongside the now-cheerful Air Chief Marshal, heading for the underground car park.
"A shame they'll only help us modify one jammer aircraft. If we had more, we could do a great deal."
"Don't rush things. I'll have people continue discussions. Yesterday they were only willing to help us strike the nuclear facilities. But my powers of persuasion may prove somewhat superior to the Foreign Ministry's useless diplomats." Singh boasted shamelessly.
"With their guidance, destroying No. 5 Squadron's F-16s becomes very plausible." Bifrata said.
"They haven't mentioned money, which for Israelis is remarkable. That tells you how closely our interests align."
"Still, Minister, I can't help feeling we shouldn't trust foreigners too readily. Their interests cannot always coincide with ours. They don't care about our war; they care only about those nuclear facilities hidden in the desert. If the Americans apply pressure…"
"You're right. But we need allies. Until Prime Minister Kahan's visit to Washington next month, we remain quite isolated, at the UN at least. By the way, before you arrived, Chaman called to tell me he has solid intelligence that the Kremlin will use this opportunity to raise the price of the MiG fighters they owe us."
"Did he need intelligence for that? Any beggar in Delhi could have guessed it." Bifrata said with a cold smile. He had no interest in whether the MiG-29UPG shipment arrived on time; that was the Navy's order.
"That's not all. Spare parts too. Fortunately we're in talks with Ukraine. They guarantee they can supply certain engine components at eighty per cent of the Russian price."
"Wonderful. More Soviet-era warehouse stock." Bifrata shook his head.
"One more thing. Pakistan's Foreign Minister's visit to Saudi Arabia has borne fruit. He's secured a commitment of financial aid from the royal family. Perhaps a billion dollars. They can now immediately pay for a full squadron of J-10Bs."
"Chaman again?"
"No. Foreign Ministry channels. They have sources in the Middle Eastern diplomatic circuit."
"But, Minister—" The Air Chief Marshal reached the underground car park and seemed to hesitate.
"Go on."
"If China continues to help Pakistan without restraint, it will be an endless menace, far more dangerous than Saudi dollars. Prime Minister Kahan should use some leverage to deal with that problem."
The question made Singh pause thoughtfully. The Air Chief Marshal stopped too.
"This afternoon, the Foreign Ministry will summon the Chinese ambassador and make our position clear."
"It won't do a damned thing. The Chinese will fob us off with a statement full of empty verbiage. They'll deny everything."
"You're wrong. This time will be different. Prime Minister Kahan intends to hint at certain things they will have no choice but to face, as a serious warning." "Oh?" "When the time comes, Chandra will tell the Chinese ambassador that all commercial shipping through the Indian Ocean is, now and in the future, under the protection of the Indian Navy.3 They will have to think very carefully before acting."
"The oil card?"
"Chaman's strategic-studies office has been working on this. Naval intelligence has also studied Chinese commercial shipping from the Persian Gulf to Malacca. Nineteen reports so far, covering interception, boarding and inspection, impounding vessels, and the likely consequences. The Prime Minister and I have both reviewed them. We've drawn some useful countermeasures: ways to warn China effectively without letting things spin out of control, ensuring they understand there will be a price if they cross the line."
"Why not let the Foreign Ministry handle this kind of strategy?"
"The Foreign Ministry? They'd wet themselves."
1. Erieye (爱立眼): The Saab Erieye airborne early-warning radar system, mounted on PAF Saab 2000 platforms operated by No. 13 Squadron. Its ability to direct Pakistani fighters from a standoff position has been a recurring advantage throughout the novel. Amos correctly identifies it as the IAF's primary operational problem. ↩
2. Growler: The Boeing EA-18G Growler, the US Navy's dedicated electronic-attack aircraft. Amos's claim that his suite can reach 80% of the Growler's capability is a bold benchmark; if true, it would represent a transformative upgrade for the IAF's SEAD capability. The system's installation on a Su-30 rather than a dedicated platform is a compromise driven by availability. ↩
3. The Indian Ocean threat: Singh's plan to threaten Chinese commercial shipping in the Indian Ocean directly addresses the vulnerability that Senior Researcher Gao identified in Chapter 17: China's dependence on Indian Ocean oil routes. The novel has now established the same strategic problem from both sides. ↩