China’s Microwave “Starlink Killer” Signals New Era in Counterspace Technology

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Beijing : Chinese researchers have announced a significant development in military technology: a compact high-power microwave (HPM) weapon designed to deliver intense pulses of electromagnetic energy that could potentially disrupt or damage satellites in low Earth orbit, including commercial constellations such as SpaceX’s Starlink. The breakthrough, described by some media as a potential “Starlink killer,” reflects Beijing’s growing focus on directed-energy and counterspace capabilities.

The system, known as the TPG1000Cs, was developed by scientists at the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology (NINT) in Xi’an, according to research published in the peer-reviewed journal High Power Laser and Particle Beams. Measuring roughly 4 meters long and weighing about 5 tons, the device is relatively compact compared with earlier microwave weapons, offering greater flexibility in deployment.

What sets the TPG1000Cs apart from previous systems is its ability to produce extremely powerful bursts of microwave energy up to 20 gigawatts sustained for nearly a full minute. Earlier high-power microwave systems were bulkier and could only operate for brief durations, often a few seconds at most. A system generating more than one gigawatt of microwave energy is considered capable, in theory, of affecting satellites in low orbit.

High-power microwaves work by emitting concentrated electromagnetic pulses that induce voltage surges within electronic components, potentially causing malfunctions or permanent damage without physically striking the target. This contrasts with conventional anti-satellite weapons, such as missiles, which create debris fields and carry greater risk of long-term hazards in space.

Chinese research publications and some state media have portrayed the TPG1000Cs as a countermeasure to large satellite networks that China views as potential threats to its national security. SpaceX’s Starlink system, with its large constellation of broadband satellites, has been referenced in these discussions.

The mobility and relatively small size of the new microwave weapon could permit installation on ground vehicles, ships, aircraft and potentially in the future on space-based platforms, though no deployment plans have been confirmed. Militaries worldwide are investigating directed-energy technologies as part of broader efforts to modernize warfighting capabilities and protect space assets.

While directed-energy weapons like the TPG1000Cs represent a conceptual leap, operational effectiveness against satellites in orbit remains subject to significant technical, strategic and legal challenges. Nonetheless, the research highlights the intensifying focus by global powers on space-domain superiority and the potential for new forms of conflict beyond Earth’s surface.

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