China's newly unveiled FK-4000 air defense system has drawn widespread attention from the global military community. Unlike traditional air defense methods that rely on missiles and artillery, the FK-4000 employs high-power microwave technology, showcasing a new trend of "bulletless air defense." This innovative technology creates an invisible "energy wall" through directed energy, instantly disabling the electronic systems of drones within several kilometers, effectively countering the threat of drone swarms on modern battlefields.
The core technology of the FK-4000 lies in its high-power microwave generator and advanced phased array radar system. Its radar can detect targets up to 150 kilometers away, enabling long-range identification and tracking. Once a target enters the microwave kill radius (over 10 kilometers), the system can quickly activate, using directed microwave energy to interfere with or destroy the electronic components of drones. This "area suppression" capability allows the FK-4000 to simultaneously counter large numbers of drone attacks, breaking the traditional point-to-point defense model and achieving efficient full-area coverage.
Compared to the United States' existing microwave weapon systems such as THOR, the FK-4000 has clear advantages in range and stability. The U.S. microwave systems have a range of only 1-2 kilometers and unstable power output, making it difficult to achieve large-scale, continuous interception over extended periods. In contrast, China's FK-4000 has overcome technical challenges such as energy transmission attenuation and electromagnetic compatibility, and has integrated the system into a high-mobility chassis, facilitating rapid deployment and mobile operations. This makes the FK-4000 highly adaptable and capable of sustained combat in real-world scenarios.
Additionally, the cost of a single interception by the FK-4000 is extremely low, only dozens of Chinese yuan, far lower than the tens of thousands of dollars for traditional missiles. This not only significantly reduces the economic burden of air defense operations but also enhances overall operational efficiency. In the future, as this "bulletless air defense" technology becomes widespread, the global military landscape may undergo profound changes. Traditional missile defense systems may gradually be replaced by efficient, low-cost directed energy weapons, especially showing great potential in countering drone swarm attacks.
In summary, the emergence of the FK-4000 marks an important step forward for China in the field of air defense technology. It not only represents the direction of future battlefield defense technology but also demonstrates China's innovation capabilities in high-tech fields. As the technology continues to mature and applications expand, the future of warfare may shift from the "ammunition era" to the "energy era," and global military balances will thus be reshuffled.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1844236442463244/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.