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China’s Navy spies on US Iran strike from Persian Gulf waters
Summary
– China deploys Type 815A spy ships in Persian Gulf to monitor U.S. tactics.
– Operation Midnight Hammer reveals U.S. stealth and electronic warfare prowess.
– China seeks insights into B-2 Spirit and GBU-57 bomb performance.
– U.S. counters Chinese intelligence with decoys and encrypted communications.
– Russia and Gulf states scrutinize U.S. strike for strategic implications.
On June 21, 2025, reports emerged that China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy [PLAN] positioned two advanced electronic intelligence vessels in the Persian Gulf, escalating regional tensions following the U.S. military’s Operation Midnight Hammer against Iran. This strategic move underscores China’s growing naval presence in a geopolitically volatile region. Initially, analysts speculated that China aimed to support Iran by sharing intelligence data.
However, evidence suggests the primary objective centers on observing U.S. military tactics, particularly the sophisticated operations involving stealth aircraft and electronic warfare. The deployed ships, identified as Type 815A-class surveillance vessels with hull numbers 855 and 815A, excel in collecting signals intelligence and monitoring radar emissions, offering China a front-row seat to U.S. capabilities.
This development captivates both defense experts and the general public, as it highlights the intricate interplay of technology, strategy, and global power dynamics in the Persian Gulf. The deployment raises questions about China’s broader ambitions and its role in a region critical to global energy supplies.
The sideline observation tactics
Nations have long deployed intelligence-gathering platforms to monitor adversaries’ military operations from a safe distance, a tactic deeply rooted in strategic competition. During the Cold War, Soviet ships frequently shadowed U.S. naval exercises in the Atlantic, collecting data on radar systems and communication protocols. Similarly, U.S. reconnaissance aircraft, like the RC-135 Rivet Joint, patrolled near Soviet borders to intercept signals from military drills in the Pacific.
More recently, Russian intelligence vessels lingered off Syria’s coast during Western airstrikes in 2018, analyzing NATO tactics and electronic warfare measures. China itself has employed this strategy, deploying surveillance ships to observe U.S.-led exercises in the South China Sea, such as the Rim of the Pacific drills in 2022. This approach allows nations to gather critical insights without direct conflict, refining their own technologies and strategies.
For instance, observing an adversary’s stealth aircraft operations can reveal vulnerabilities in detection systems. China’s presence in the Persian Gulf aligns with this established practice, as it seeks to study U.S. tactics during a high-stakes operation. This tactic, far from novel, reflects a standard playbook for great powers eyeing their rivals’ capabilities.
China’s strategic objectives in the Persian Gulf
China’s deployment of intelligence ships in the Persian Gulf signals a calculated effort to advance its military and geopolitical interests. Primarily, the PLAN aims to scrutinize Operation Midnight Hammer, the U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, to decode American tactics.
By establishing a naval presence, Beijing asserts itself as a global player capable of influencing regional dynamics. Additionally, the deployment aligns with China’s push to enhance its satellite-based tracking of stealth platforms, a priority for its military modernization.
The Persian Gulf’s strategic location, near the Strait of Hormuz, amplifies the significance of this move, as control over this chokepoint affects global energy markets. China’s actions reflect a blend of opportunism and long-term ambition, positioning it to learn from U.S. operations while flexing its naval reach.
Technological aspects of China’s intelligence platforms
The Type 815A-class ships, central to China’s Persian Gulf mission, boast advanced systems for electronic intelligence collection. These vessels feature sophisticated antennas and sensors that intercept radar signals, communications, and electromagnetic emissions across a wide range of frequencies.
These platforms address the challenge of monitoring advanced adversaries by integrating signals intelligence with cyber capabilities, potentially disrupting enemy communications if needed. Compared to earlier models, the Type 815A offers improved sensitivity and data processing, enhancing China’s ability to decode complex U.S. tactics. For defense enthusiasts, these ships represent a leap in naval intelligence, blending stealthy design with cutting-edge technology to reshape how nations gather battlefield insights.
U.S. operation Midnight Hammer
Operation Midnight Hammer, launched on June 21, 2025, showcased U.S. military prowess through a meticulously coordinated strike on three Iranian nuclear sites: Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. Seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, each carrying massive 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs, spearheaded the attack, penetrating deep into fortified targets.
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, detailed the operation’s complexity, noting that 125 aircraft, including decoy planes and escorts, synchronized their movements to confuse Iranian defenses. A U.S. submarine fired over two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles at Isfahan’s infrastructure, weakening air defenses before the bombers arrived. Electronic warfare systems jammed Iranian radars, ensuring the B-2s remained undetected.
The sequential deployment of GBU-57 bombs maximized penetration, targeting underground facilities like Fordo’s uranium enrichment plant. These tactics, blending stealth, precision, and deception, captivated Chinese observers, as they revealed U.S. capabilities in countering advanced air defenses. The operation’s success underscores why adversaries like China prioritize studying such missions to refine their own strategies.
Russian and international interests
Russia, alongside other global players, closely monitors Operation Midnight Hammer for its technical and strategic implications. Russian analysts likely focus on the GBU-57’s performance, particularly its scatter radius and ability to strike multiple bombs sequentially for deeper penetration. Such data could inform Russia’s development of similar munitions or countermeasures.
The operation also draws attention from Gulf states, wary of China’s naval presence near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit route. European nations, concerned about regional stability, view China’s intelligence-gathering as a potential escalator of tensions. The deployment of Chinese ships may prompt discussions in NATO about countering non-Western intelligence operations in critical regions.
Meanwhile, speculation abounds that China and Russia might share collected data, leveraging their joint exercises like Maritime Security Belt 2025 to align strategies. This international scrutiny highlights the operation’s ripple effects, as nations reassess their military postures and alliances in response to U.S. tactics and China’s bold intelligence mission.
The U.S. military actively counters Chinese and potential Russian intelligence-gathering in the Persian Gulf. During Operation Midnight Hammer, commanders employed deception tactics, such as deploying decoy aircraft to mislead observers about the B-2 strike package’s path. General Caine confirmed that fighter jets cleared airspace ahead of the bombers, neutralizing threats from Iranian surface-to-air missiles.
The U.S. also dispersed naval assets, including minesweepers, to avoid vulnerabilities in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran could deploy mines. Advanced encryption and frequency-hopping communication systems protected U.S. operations from interception by Chinese Type 815A ships. These countermeasures reflect a broader U.S. strategy to maintain technological superiority amid growing competition.
By complicating adversaries’ intelligence collection, the U.S. ensures its stealth platforms and tactics remain elusive. This cat-and-mouse game underscores the complexity of modern warfare, where safeguarding operational secrets is as critical as executing strikes. Defense analysts note that such measures strengthen U.S. deterrence, challenging China’s ability to fully decode American tactics.
Geopolitical consequences and future scenarios
China’s intelligence deployment in the Persian Gulf carries profound geopolitical implications, reshaping dynamics among major powers. The move strains U.S.-China relations, as Washington views it as a challenge to its regional dominance. Iran, while potentially benefiting from Chinese data, faces heightened scrutiny from Gulf neighbors wary of Beijing’s growing influence.
Russia’s interest in the operation could deepen its collaboration with China, complicating Western strategies. Looking ahead, China may leverage insights from Operation Midnight Hammer to refine its anti-stealth technologies, narrowing the U.S. technological edge. This event marks a new chapter in global military competition, urging policymakers and the public to grasp its stakes in a world of intensifying rivalries.
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Bulgarian Military