A team of researchers in China has made a breakthrough in creating a powerful new weapon. It could potentially disable satellites from the ground. The device can deliver 20 gigawatts continuously for up to 1 minute.
The system, called the TPG1000Cs, is designed to generate high-energy microwave pulses over a much longer duration than previous systems. In contrast, earlier weapons could only operate for a few seconds before overheating or running out of energy, as reported by South China Morning Post (SCMP).
The TPG1000Cs is the world’s first compact driver for a high-power microwave (HPM) weapon, developed by the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology in Xi’an. It’s small and lightweight. In fact, it measures just 4 meters long and weighs around 5 tons.
This compact size makes it suitable for deployment on various platforms such as trucks, ships, aircraft, and even satellites. Moreover, the weapon’s ability to deliver sustained high-power microwave pulses over longer durations makes it a significant advancement over older systems. Those previous systems were much larger and had limited operating times.
The weapon’s development is part of China’s broader efforts to enhance its directed-energy technologies. These technologies use focused electromagnetic waves instead of explosives, offering new possibilities for military defence. The findings published in the journal Chinese High Power Laser and Particle Beams.
Directed-energy weapons, including high-power microwave systems, are becoming more popular as nations seek cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to conventional weapons like missiles and guns. Notably, with its ability to produce up to 3,000 high-energy pulses in a single session, the TPG1000Cs shows clear advantages.
The weapon’s compact size and extended operational time are the main advantages that set it apart from earlier systems. Present high-power microwave weapons are typically large and bulky, making them difficult to deploy and use effectively.
They also have very short operating times, often just a few seconds, before they would overheat or exhaust their energy supply. In contrast, the TPG1000Cs can run continuously for one minute. Furthermore, it delivers powerful microwave pulses that could potentially disrupt or damage satellites in low Earth orbit, such as SpaceX’s Starlink network.
Reports show that a ground-based microwave weapon with a power output exceeding 1 gigawatt can be enough to interfere with, or even damage, Starlink satellites. Starlink provides global internet coverage via a constellation of satellites. As a result, it has raised national security concerns in several countries.
In particular, China has repeatedly warned that these satellites could pose a threat to its national security. For this reason, China has been developing various countermeasures, including high-power microwave systems like the TPG1000Cs. These could be used to neutralise satellites deemed to be a security risk.
The TPG1000Cs can deliver up to 20 gigawatts of power, and they have already completed over 200,000 test pulses, demonstrating their reliable performance. In addition, the system is capable of operating at a scale that was previously unattainable for high-power microwave devices.
It can generate pulses over much longer durations than its predecessors. Additionally, the system has the ability to target distant objects, such as satellites, with precision. This makes it a valuable tool for countering space-based threats. It offers a potential alternative to missile systems, which are often expensive and less effective against fast-moving targets like satellites.
Researchers note that militaries could deploy the TPG1000C on a variety of platforms. Therefore, operators can use it flexibly in different scenarios. For example, they can mount the system on trucks, ships, aircraft, or satellites. In turn, the system can target satellites or other space-based assets that pose a threat to national security. Furthermore, the compact size of the device makes it particularly well-suited for mobile platforms. This allows it to be deployed quickly and efficiently in different regions.
One of the key challenges faced by previous high-power microwave systems was their large size and short operational duration. These systems could only fire for a few seconds before overheating or depleting their energy stores.
The TPG1000Cs, however, has been designed with improved energy storage and efficiency. This design allows it to deliver sustained high-power pulses over a much longer period. As a result, it is much more effective for long-range targeting of satellites and other space-based assets.
The weapon’s development also represents a major upgrade over previous microwave systems like the Hurricane-series HPM weapons, which designers primarily built for short-range air defense.
The TPG1000Cs is capable of delivering more powerful microwave pulses and operating for longer durations, making it a more versatile and effective weapon. Moreover, the researchers behind the TPG1000C state that operators could potentially use the system for both defense and offensive operations. This offers a new way to protect satellites or disable enemy space assets.
