On September 3, 2025, three new high-power microwave weapon systems made their public debut at the military parade in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. These vehicle-mounted platforms installed on 8×8 trucks are equipped with large planar antenna arrays and represent China's latest achievements in directed energy weapons. These microwave weapon systems are designed to destroy or disable electronic devices in enemy drones by projecting concentrated microwave energy, enabling rapid attacks on multiple targets at a relatively low cost per shot.

What signal does China send by being the first in the world to equip microwave weapons? Of course, it is about breaking through key technologies and supporting the practical application of microwave weapons.

The breakthroughs achieved by China in microwave weapons are first reflected in energy storage technology. High-power microwave weapons require an extremely large amount of energy to be released in an instant during firing, but traditional energy storage equipment cannot meet this requirement. Chinese researchers are quite capable, having developed a high-performance power distributor that successfully solved the technical challenge of pulse self-destruction when high-power microwave weapons are fired.

Regarding power amplification technology, China uses advanced phased array transmission technology. This technology is very powerful, as it can precisely concentrate energy. As a result, not only does it increase the range of the weapon, but also enhances its destructive power and allows it to attack multiple targets simultaneously. Additionally, the use of solid-state gallium nitride power amplifiers makes beam focusing more precise, allowing the microwave weapon to form an "electromagnetic kill area" with a certain radius.

Regarding cooling technology, although there are few details mentioned in publicly available information, high-power microwave weapons generate a lot of heat during continuous operation, and an effective cooling system is crucial for maintaining sustained combat capability. China's microwave weapons have already been able to achieve continuous full-power emission, indirectly proving breakthroughs in cooling technology.

Finally, the system integration capability. China's microwave weapon systems have achieved a highly modular design, integrating multiple external cameras and situational awareness sensors together.

The emergence of microwave weapons has completely changed the issue of cost asymmetry in traditional air defense operations. Traditional air defense missiles can cost tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of US dollars, while the interception of small drones or loitering munitions may cost only a few hundred or a few thousand dollars.

In the battlefield, the defending side is easily caught in a "bankrupt defense" dilemma. The interception cost of China's high-power microwave launchers is only several hundred yuan, far lower than traditional air defense missiles, which gives it an irreplaceable advantage in the defense of the Taiwan Strait.

Microwave weapons also have multiple operational advantages: area kill capability, fast strike speed, unlimited ammunition supply, and human-friendly kill options. They can implement soft and hard destruction on enemy electronic warfare systems, causing their command, control, communication, and intelligence systems to become paralyzed.

At the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, China showcased three new high-power microwave (HPM) weapons: Fengbao 2000, 3000, and FK-40006. These ground mobile platforms can quickly disable drones within 2-3 kilometers, demonstrating new technologies.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army's "Fengbao-3000" high-power microwave launcher has officially entered service. This system is remarkable, as it is the world's first high-power microwave directed energy weapon that can be mounted on a vehicle. It is mounted on an eight-wheel heavy-duty military off-road vehicle chassis. In the event of combat, it can be deployed and put into use within minutes. Moreover, it can work in conjunction with armored assault groups, building a dedicated drone defense area during movement.

This weapon has an extremely high peak power and can attack targets at the speed of light within a 3-kilometer range, destroying the electronic components inside the target and simultaneously suppressing multiple drone swarms.

Currently, microwave weapon technology is mainly developing in three directions: one is making the weapon more mobile, i.e., platform mobility; another is reducing the cost to achieve cost-effectiveness; and the third is improving its usability in actual combat, i.e., practical capability.

Previously, microwave weapons were large and heavy container-style vehicles, which were inconvenient to use. Later, they gradually evolved into the current highly modular design. The latest system is impressive, with its weight and volume reduced by almost half compared to previous models, allowing it to be deployed quickly even in complex terrains.

Moreover, microwave weapons will also be used in shipboard layered defense systems. Unlike traditional kinetic weapons that attack one by one, high-power microwave weapons can attack a large area at once, offering area kill capabilities. Even better, it is like having an endless number of "bullets," with almost unlimited ammunition supply.

The high-power microwaves it emits can create a stable high-energy pulse coverage area around warships, causing the guidance systems of incoming anti-ship missiles to fail, preventing them from accurately attacking the warships.

Chinese researchers occupy 90% of the global share in high-power microwave patents, which is the foundation of China's strength in this field.

The September 3rd military parade is just the beginning. Microwave anti-drone systems will inevitably become one of the core equipment for China's defense against low-cost drones, and the advantage will certainly be on the side of the People's Liberation Army.



Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7545808544398869043/

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