China tests microwave weapon with nuclear bomb-like power to kill satellites
Chinese researchers have allegedly developed a new high-power microwave (HPM) weapon with power equivalent to electromagnetic energy released by a nuclear explosion. Reportedly also relatively compact, the new weapon could prove game-changing for anti-drone and anti-satellite military operations.
The weapon is still developing and has not left the laboratory, so it is yet to be field-tested. Weapons such as this one can cause significant damage and even destroy electronic components, making them invaluable for modern military operations.
Many nations worldwide are developing their HPMs, with the U.S. reportedly planning to deploy some to the Indo-Pacific region soon. It is reported that the U.S. would plan to use such weapons to target and knock out Chinese satellites should conflict erupt between the two superpowers.
In most cases, though not all, HPMs comprise a satellite-dish-type antenna with multiple degrees of rotation to engage targets at will. The new Chinese HPM, however, uses phased array transmission technology instead.
HPM with nuclear bomb levels of power
This, it is reported, enables “precisely focus energy, increasing its effective range and enhancing damage effects, enabling simultaneous attacks on multiple targets,” according to researchers involved in the project.
While interesting, it is important to note that this setup has long been considered impractical as it tends to be relatively unstable. However, Chinese researchers have overcome challenges with the technology, even enabling it to produce microwaves approaching 1 gigawatt (GW) in power.
According to researchers from the National University of Defense Technology in Changsha and the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology in Xian, the technology produces rotating EM waves that can be converted into more stable states. They have even developed a means of distributing the EM waves into eight independent channels for phased array antennas.
This is achieved, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reports, using a unique power divider about the size of a household pedestal fan. By doing this, the HPM can kick out 80,000 volts per meter.
This is comparable to the electromagnetic pulses generated by nuclear weapon explosions. According to the team, the high-performance power divided has been extensively tested more than 5,000 times at full power with little to no “tail erosion” or other apparent long-standing damage.
Also, after this punishment, the HPM divider’s generated waveforms remain unchanged. Not only that, but the operating efficiency of this eight-way power divider reached 96.6 percent, and the cap to its power capacity threshold may far exceed 1GW.
Could destroy satellites and drones with ease
If true, this meets China’s military’s requirements for HPM phased array antennas for high power capacity and transmission efficiency. According to its developers, the weapon emitted Ku-band electromagnetic pulses during testing.
This happens to be the primary operating frequency band communication satellites such as Starlink. These satellites use large antennas to receive weak signals from the ground and use many commercial-grade electronic components.
However, according to some Chinese space experts, the SCMP reports that to reduce costs, some components may not follow military standards for additional reinforcement against potential attacks.
Given Starlink’s high-profile use in theatres like the Russia-Ukraine war, the Chinese military is actively pursuing the development of tailored anti-satellite weapons. According to calculations by Chinese scientists, gigawatt-level energy weapons have the potential to target not only drones but also satellites in low-Earth orbit.
Source: Interesting Engineering
Sexy robot unveiled at Vegas tech conference is world’s most realistic
China tests microwave weapon with nuclear bomb-like power to kill satellites