China’s military has developed a pulsed weapon that could potentially target Starlink satellites, South China Morning Post reports, citing a study by China’s National University of Defense Technology.
The article, published in the specialist journal High Power Laser and Particle Beams, publicly reveals some of the characteristics of China’s developments in this field for the first time. According to the authors, the systems can generate pulses with power of up to 100 gigawatts.
The researchers say that in recent years the technology has advanced “from laboratory prototypes to practical application,” while the systems themselves have become more powerful and durable.
According to the scientists, using such weapons could be significantly cheaper than traditional means of striking targets in space.
The authors also note that the publication could help other countries assess the vulnerability of large satellite constellations to high-power microwave weapons. According to them, China has been actively developing this area in recent years in response to “significant national strategic needs.”
Western media previously reported that Russia and China were discussing measures to counter the Starlink satellite system.