'Starlink killer': China develops compact high-power microwave device that could threaten satellites

A compact high-power microwave weapon driver developed at China’s Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology in Xi’an could pose a major challenge to satellite networks such as Starlink, according to researchers.

The device, known as the TPG1000Cs, is capable of delivering up to 20 gigawatts of power for as long as one minute.China has repeatedly warned that Starlink poses a serious threat to its national security.Researchers are reportedly developing new “Starlink killer” weapons, including high-power microwave systems and lasers, aimed at countering large constellations of low-orbit satellites, as cited by the South China Morning Post.While SpaceX has lowered Starlink satellites to minimise collision risks, the move has also made them more susceptible to ground-based directed-energy attacks.

Features of TPG1000Cs:

Measuring about four metres in length and weighing roughly five tonnes, the system is small enough to be mounted on trucks, warships, aircraft, or satellites.If deployed in space, the TPG1000Cs could make attacks more lethal and harder to detect, with the system capable of delivering up to 3,000 high-energy pulses in a single session—far exceeding comparable technologies.

The device incorporates several major design innovations, according to its developers. Researchers replaced high-strength steel with aluminium alloy, reducing the system’s weight by about a third. They also etched wavy grooves into insulating plates to lengthen the surface path and prevent electrical discharges, similar to winding mountain roads that stop currents from “cutting corners.”Traditional energy-storage components typically use long, straight tubes that require significant length to store sufficient energy.

By contrast, the TPG1000Cs uses a dual U-shaped structure that allows energy to bounce back and forth, achieving the same performance in roughly half the space.Additional improvements included replacing the insulating oil, enabling the system to store significantly more energy.The advances were outlined in a paper published on December 30 in High Power Laser and Particle Beams, a Chinese peer-reviewed journal, by a team led by Wang Gang from the Key Laboratory on Science and Technology on High Power Microwave at the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology (NINT).