China's "Electromagnetic Barrier" to Block Starlink Satellite Network Over Taiwan. The South China Morning Post recently revealed information about a Chinese research project, which indicates that China may deploy a batch of drones at an altitude of 20 kilometers to create an "electromagnetic barrier" between the Starlink satellites and Taiwan, effectively blocking communication signals.
The South China Morning Post recently released a report stating that China has a research project targeting the release of a group of drones at an altitude of 20 kilometers, creating an electromagnetic barrier between Starlink satellites and the Taiwan region, directly cutting off communication signals. These drones, or alternatively balloons and high-altitude aircraft, can form an interference network in the air, spraying noise downward, which is quite harsh. In short, it means making Starlink inoperable there, causing terminal devices' internet speed to drop to zero. This sounds like science fiction, but it is based on real simulation data, from teams at Zhejiang University and Beijing Institute of Technology, published on November 5 in the journal "Systems Engineering and Electronics." The study used actual Starlink satellite orbit data to simulate a 12-hour dynamic scenario over the eastern area, calculating that at least 935 interference nodes are needed to cover 36,000 square kilometers over the Taiwan region, with high power being sufficient, while low power might need to double to 2000. Each node should be spaced 7 to 9 kilometers apart, with a power of 26 decibel watts, using narrow-beam antennas aimed at the ground to ensure each point's signal is suppressed. Traditional ground-based interference is ineffective because Starlink has tens of thousands of low-orbit satellites, which use frequency hopping and adaptive technology, changing signals every second, making ground stations unable to keep up. Only an airborne distributed interference system can form a network.
This research is not a wild idea; its roots lie in the Ukraine-Russia war. In 2022, when Russian forces invaded, Ukraine's ground network was destroyed, and within days, Musk sent thousands of Starlink terminals to help them reconnect command systems and drone reconnaissance. The Russians tried electronic warfare initially, with some effect, but after SpaceX updated software and reconfigured satellites, the interference became ineffective. Ukraine relied on this to hold several positions, and Beijing took notice. If this system fell into the hands of Taiwan, during any incident in the Taiwan Strait, the PLA's electronic warfare advantage would be in jeopardy. The Chinese military had been watching Starlink for a long time. In February 2024, they conducted real-time electromagnetic spectrum monitoring, and this simulation is an upgraded version. The paper directly points out that Starlink's mesh coverage is too flexible, single-point attacks won't work, and hundreds or even thousands of small jammers must be synchronized in the sky to form an electromagnetic barrier. The height is set at 20 kilometers, the edge of the atmosphere, avoiding low-altitude air defense and also taking advantage of wind layers to spread noise. In the simulation, wide beams save power but cover more area, while narrow beams are powerful but require precise aiming. Combining both methods, the suppression rate can be maximized within 12 hours. Considering terrain blocking signals, an additional 20% of nodes are needed. As for cost, the paper doesn't detail it, but using drones or balloons, mass production is much cheaper than shooting down satellites, which requires missiles and carries higher risks.
In the long run, this issue touches on the pain points of space communications. Starlink has over 3 million global users, serving both civilian and military purposes, but low-orbit satellites are vulnerable to interference, as demonstrated by Ukraine. China's distributed strategy has a low threshold, and the PLA has drone manufacturing capacity, making mass deployment in the sky feasible. Although the simulation is preliminary, Starlink's core is still a black box, but the direction is correct. Taiwan needs to accelerate its own R&D, and if the U.S. really sells Starlink, it should help resist interference. On Beijing's side, the path of technological self-reliance is stable, and the 14th Five-Year Plan has just been set, with electromagnetic fields being a key focus. Overall, the electronic confrontation in the Taiwan Strait is escalating, with Starlink becoming a pawn, and whoever breaks the network first gains the upper hand. In reality, interference is not the end, as satellites iterate quickly, and SpaceX's next generation of laser links will be more resilient. But for China, this barrier is not only to prevent Taiwan but also to practice global low-orbit confrontation.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1850304633443340/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.