China unveils a 100-gigawatt microwave weapon targeting satellites

Researchers from China's National University of Defense Technology have published details of a system capable of generating 100 gigawatts of microwave energy, enough power to neutralize low-Earth orbit satellites, including those in the Starlink constellation.

The study, published this month in the journal "High Power Laser and Particle Beams," describes several pulse generators developed by the Chinese military in recent years. The most powerful of these reaches 100 gigawatts by combining several synchronized generators, according to the team led by Zhang Jun. To put this figure into perspective: a household microwave oven produces approximately 800 watts, or 0,0000008 gigawatts.

Experts estimate that a single gigawatt pulse is enough to cause serious interference or direct damage to the electronics of a satellite in low Earth orbit. The system described by the NUDT would multiply this capacity by one hundred, and the authors specify that the architecture is designed to accommodate further power increases.

The technical solution relies on the synchronization of several compact pulsed power modules, rather than a single generator which is limited by electrical insulation. This modular approach allows each unit to operate at its maximum efficiency without compromising the overall system.

This is not the first time Beijing has made research in this area public. In February, another study revealed the existence of a 20-gigawatt device developed by the Northwestern Institute of Nuclear Technology, explicitly presented as a potential weapon against satellite networks such as Starlink.

The strategic advantage of these microwave weapons lies in their mode of operation: they act on electronics without physical contact, unlike kinetic weapons which destroy satellites on impact and generate clouds of debris dangerous to all orbiting spacecraft, including those of the attacker. This method of operation offers a low operational cost relative to the value of the targeted constellations, and leaves a degree of ambiguity in attributing the attack that conventional weapons do not allow.

The NUDT team acknowledges in the article that the goal is to achieve tens of gigawatts while respecting strict volume and weight constraints, an essential condition for integrating the system into mobile or embedded platforms.

The study also presents other innovations: semiconductor systems adaptable to different operational environments, and a hybrid of lithium-ion capacitors capable of activating instantly down to -40°C, a useful feature for electronic warfare units deployed in winter or polar conditions.

The authors assert that China has a significant lead over other powers in this field, which they attribute to years of sustained investment in high-power pulse research. Countries seeking to close this gap face, according to the text, the loss of industrial capacity, reduced research and development spending, and difficulties in accessing critical materials, including rare earth elements. The next steps in research will focus on improving beam control accuracy and reducing the size and cost of these systems.