Chinese scientists have disclosed details about microwave weapons that pose a threat to Starlink satellites, according to South China Morning Post.
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Researchers from the National University of Defense Technology described recent advancements, noting that the country has made significant progress in this field. Particular emphasis is placed on the fact that such weapons could pose a serious danger to low-orbit satellite constellations like Starlink, with the cost of a single shot being extremely low compared to the value of the targeted devices.
“It is widely acknowledged that powerful microwave pulses reaching 1 gigawatt can cause severe interference or even damage to satellite equipment in low Earth orbit,” SCMP writes.
The 100-gigawatt system developed by Chinese engineers uses synchronization of multiple compact generators to achieve record-breaking power. Among the key technological breakthroughs is a new hybrid system based on lithium-ion capacitors, which allows the weapon to activate instantly even at minus 40 degrees Celsius — a critical feature for operation in winter or polar conditions.
Research has already moved from laboratory prototypes to practical high-performance models, some of which have been delivered to customers.
As near-term goals, scientists cite improving the precision of controlling the energy beam, as well as reducing the size and cost of the installations.
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