The South China Morning Post: China Announces Development of Microwave Weapon Capable of Disabling Satellites
The report states that researchers from the National University of Defense Technology in China have unveiled a high-power microwave weapon system capable of targeting near-Earth orbit spacecraft, including Starlink satellites.
The system consists of multiple pulsed microwave transmitters and is said to generate up to 100 gigawatts of directed pulse energy. The development team also created a new hybrid lithium-ion power supply system capable of stable operation in sub-zero temperatures as low as -40°C. According to the article, a pulse as low as 1 gigawatt is sufficient to damage onboard equipment of near-Earth orbit satellites. The research team plans to further improve beam control precision, reduce the overall size of the device, and lower manufacturing costs in future developments.
Micro-commentary
Low Earth orbit satellites like Starlink are small in size and have weak electronic protection—lacking heavy electromagnetic shielding—making them highly vulnerable to directed high-energy microwaves. The accompanying lithium-ion battery system capable of operating at -40°C indicates this system can be deployed in extremely cold regions and mounted on vehicles or used in mobile operations, significantly enhancing battlefield adaptability and freeing it from dependence on large fixed installations.
The multi-transmitter design allows for easy disassembly and mobile transportation, enabling coordinated networking across multiple positions. Simultaneous multi-point emissions can expand coverage area, providing a clustered suppression capability against large satellite constellations such as Starlink’s thousands of satellites. Once miniaturization and cost reduction are realized, this equipment will rapidly transition from laboratory research to practical military deployment.
Starlink's low-orbit constellation has demonstrated exceptional military value during the Russia-Ukraine conflict by providing frontline communications and reconnaissance positioning. Previously, Western nations relied on space assets to maintain one-sided information superiority. High-power microwave anti-satellite technology offers a low-cost means of countering low-orbit satellite clusters, strengthening space offense-defense systems and breaking the monopoly held by single countries or groups over space-based communication and reconnaissance resources.
These directed-energy weapons are not offensive kill weapons; they do not produce space debris and do not pollute orbital environments, distinguishing them from kinetic impact anti-satellite missiles. Their core function is to deny an adversary the use of satellites for military support during conflicts. This represents a reasonable national defense research initiative aligned with the global trend of developing space defense capabilities.
Multiple countries worldwide are simultaneously advancing similar technologies: the United States has conducted years of high-power microwave and electromagnetic anti-satellite weapon tests, while Russia already possesses vehicle-mounted electromagnetic jamming anti-satellite equipment. Such developments reflect synchronized technological competition rather than being exclusive to China.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870484884582412/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.