China develops new satellite-wrecking Death Star-like microwave weapon

This is then directed through several laser cannons, that merge at a single point to generate a beam so powerful it can destroy entire planets. While impressive cinematically, this kind of weapon has long been considered a complete fantasy.

According to reports, the new Chinese weapon consists of multiple independent microwave-transmitting vehicles that can be deployed in different locations.

China’s new Death Star-like microwave weapon

These vehicles are then able to coordinate the focus of their beams into one location, merging and amplifying an attack’s power. This task is difficult, as each beam transmitter would need ultra-precise location and timing controls.

In fact, according to the research team’s calculations, each microwave vehicle must be deployed with a positional error reduced to just a few millimeters. Additionally, the time synchronization error between the vehicles must not exceed 170 picoseconds (trillionths of a second).

To put that into perspective, it is more precise than the atomic clocks used in GPS satellites. So, it is very accurate indeed.

Such timing precision is not beyond the capabilities of Chinese scientists, however. In fact, Chinese scientists set a world record last year by using optical fiber to achieve a time synchronization accuracy of 10 picoseconds over a distance of 1,100 miles (1,800 km).

According to reports, the new Chinese system comprises seven transmitting vehicles. Experiments have demonstrated that this device can effectively disrupt signals from American GPS and other satellites.

Chinese scientists also equipped each transmitting vehicle with laser-ranging auxiliary positioning devices to obtain millimeter-level coordinates. A main mobile command center organizes the control of the beams.

This center analyzes data from various platforms and issues attack commands to the vehicles. According to an unnamed scientist involved in the project, the microwave beams can achieve a power-combining effect of “1+1>2.”

Could knock out satellites, but not planets

Such a weapon could serve multiple purposes, including education and training, verification of new technology, and military exercises. To maximize precision and accuracy, researchers connected the timing devices on the transmitting platforms using optical fibers to achieve ultra-high-time precision synchronization.

Beyond that, due to the project’s military sensitivity, the weapon’s performance parameters are confidential.

A distributed structure could theoretically allow the power of an attack beam to increase indefinitely. Previous research suggests that when the output of a directed energy weapon reaches one gigawatt, it can inflict significant damage on satellites in near-Earth orbit.

Clearly, that is significantly less than the kind of energy needed to destroy a target, especially a planet. However, it could provide interesting capabilities for the Chinese military.