US EditionChina Unveils Compact Microwave Weapon that Could Disrupt Starlink
The TPG1000Cs delivers 20 gigawatts for 60 seconds and over 3,000 pulses, marking a significant advancement in non-kinetic counterspace weapons, Chinese researchers say.
- This month the South China Morning Post reported a team led by Wang Gang at the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology in Xi'an developed the compact TPG1000Cs high-power microwave driver.
- In response to perceived threats from SpaceX's Starlink, Chinese authorities and military researchers pursue HPM systems as non-kinetic tools to disable high-value electronics early in conflict, following PLA doctrine.
- Researchers say the TPG1000Cs delivers up to 3,000 pulses per session, miniaturised using Midel 7131, a dual-width pulse-forming line, and a dual-U-shaped structure with over 200,000 test pulses logged.
- Mounting the system on mobile platforms or in orbit would expand attack options, as experts say ground-based HPM threats over 1 GW could seriously disrupt Starlink, while analysts warn lowering its altitude increases vulnerability.
- Analysts caution HPMs complicate space deterrence as attacks are non-kinetic, hard to attribute, and escalation-prone; experts recommend resilience, redundancy, allied cooperation, and quantum sensing.
24 Articles
24 Articles
China's 'Starlink killer' new cutting edge of microwave weapons
China’s latest high-power microwave (HPM) breakthrough, a powerful truck-mountable system described by Chinese researchers and Chinese media as a potential counter to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations such as Starlink, signals a shift toward non-kinetic weapons designed to paralyze satellites, command networks, and modern warfare itself. This month, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that […] The post China’s ‘Starlink killer’ new c…
China Unveils Microwave Weapon Capable Of Disrupting Starlink Satellites
Chinese researchers say they have developed the world’s first compact high-power microwave weapon capable of sustained output strong enough to disrupt low-Earth-orbit satellites, raising fresh concerns over space security. The system, known as the TPG1000Cs, was developed at the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology, according to a peer-reviewed study. It can generate up to 20 gigawatts of power for as long as 60 seconds, far exceeding previ…
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