China Unveils Compact 20GW Microwave Weapon Capable of Sustained Bursts

Groundbreaking Microwave Weapon Developed in China

A team of researchers in China has successfully developed a high-power microwave (HPM) weapon, designated TPG1000Cs, capable of delivering an extraordinary 20 gigawatts of power for up to one full minute. This development marks a significant advancement in directed-energy weapon technology.

The weapon was developed by a research team led by Wang Gang at the Key Laboratory of High-Power Microwave Science and Technology of the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology (NINT) in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.

Advanced Capabilities and Compact Design

The TPG1000Cs is described as the world's first compact driver for a high-power microwave weapon. Measuring approximately four meters long and weighing only five tonnes, its compact size allows for versatile deployment. It is reportedly suitable for mounting on various platforms, including trucks, warships, aircraft, or even satellites.

This new system significantly surpasses previous technologies. For instance, Russia's Sinus-7 driver, a comparable system, could only operate for about one second and weighed around 10 tonnes. The Chinese researchers achieved this performance by replacing traditional straight tubes with a compact, double U-shaped structure, enhancing energy efficiency. The TPG1000Cs has accumulated over 200,000 operational pulses during testing, demonstrating stable and reliable performance.

Implications for Satellite Warfare

The development of the TPG1000Cs is seen by some Chinese experts as a potential 'Starlink killer' weapon. They estimate that a ground-based microwave weapon with an output exceeding 1 gigawatt could severely disrupt or even damage Starlink satellites operating in low Earth orbit.

China has consistently expressed concerns that Starlink could pose a threat to its national security. Military researchers in China are actively developing countermeasures, including high-power microwave systems and lasers, to address large constellations of low-orbit satellites. SpaceX's strategy of lowering the orbital altitude of its Starlink satellites to reduce collision risks inadvertently makes them more vulnerable to attacks from ground-based directed-energy weapons.