There has been a remarkable development in the increasingly fierce space competition between the USA, Russia and China. Chinese researchers have developed a new defense system that can disable satellites without creating physical debris. While it is stated that the new high-power laser-microwave based weapon system can completely neutralize the USA’s low altitude satellites, it is emphasized that the USA will accelerate the national air defense shield initiative called “Golden Dome” in response to the project. Beijing’s primary target is Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites.
HIGH POWER MICROWAVE SYSTEM
According to the study published by researchers at the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology (NINT), headquartered in Xi’an, China, and reportedly affiliated with the Chinese Army, the production of compact high-power microwave laser (HPM) weapons called “TPG1000Cs” will begin soon. It was reported that the system, which is approximately four meters long and weighs five tons, is much smaller compared to similar technologies and can produce approximately 200 thousand high microwave laser pulses by operating continuously for one minute. In the study, the system was able to produce electrical pulses reaching 20 gigawatts. It is stated that this is well above the threshold of approximately 1 gigawatt deemed necessary to disrupt satellite networks in low orbit.
LOW RANGE ORBIT SATELLITES
According to defense analysis, high-power microwave laser weapons can target electronic systems without creating dangerous debris clouds in space, unlike classical kinetic anti-satellite weapons. According to Chinese military experts, the USA, Russia and China have been in fierce competition over this technology for a long time. It is stated that such systems, which store energy and discharge it in a sudden pulse, can temporarily or permanently disable all electronic systems of satellites through intense microwave radiation.
CHINA AND RUSSIA PROGRAMS ACCELERATED
In recent years, analyzes in international defense media Many academic studies published in China indicate that there are approximately 20 projects for systems that can neutralize large satellite constellations. attention is drawn. According to analysis, the acceleration of systems supported by the government in China or developed by universities with their own budgets has been accelerated after the Starlink satellite network owned by the controversial billionaire businessman of the USA, Elon Musk. Starlink satellites in low orbit have recently come to the world’s attention once again with the role they played in maintaining the communication infrastructure during the war in Ukraine and providing internet access to demonstrators during the protests in Iran. According to intelligence and military experts, this situation has led to large satellite networks becoming military targets in China and Russia and to the acceleration of research on counter-space technologies.
SPACE IS AT THE CENTER OF THE CONFLICT
In the comments in the global defense media, microwave-based anti-satellite systems have come to the fore in the military competition in space. These technologies, which aim to create electronic paralysis rather than the physical destruction of satellites, create gray areas in international law and also directly affect the balance of nuclear and conventional deterrence. The institution that determines the entire military strategy in China last year The Central Military Commission (CMC) determined that the priority in a possible conflict with the USA was air defense, space defense and cyber capability. had made it public.
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