Chinese scientists at the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology in Xi’an have developed the “TPG1000Cs,” a compact high-power microwave (HPM) device designed to target satellite constellations such as SpaceX’s Starlink, according to a study. 

The device, which is just four meters long and weighs five tons, is reportedly compact enough to be mounted on trucks, warships, planes, or even satellites. It can deliver up to 20 gigawatts of power for one minute, producing roughly 200,000 pulses with consistent performance.

Researchers say the breakthrough was enabled by a specialized liquid insulating material known as Midel 7131.

Microwave weapons could disable a satellite while creating minimal debris and allow for plausible deniability. These weapons work by storing electrical energy and releasing it all at once in a powerful pulse. 

Until now, most prototypes for these pulse generators have been large, measuring at least 10 meters long and weighing over 10 tons, making them difficult to deploy on smaller weapons platforms. 

For comparison, Russia’s recent Sinus-7 driver weighed about 10 tons, ran for roughly one second, and emitted around 100 pulses per burst.

The development of the device is part of a long-standing effort to build “Starlink-killer” weapons, as Beijing views the Starlink network as a threat to its national security.

Experts in Beijing worry that these satellites could be used against China for reconnaissance and for targeting critical Chinese assets, particularly in the event of a potential invasion of Taiwan.

Shortly after Russia launched its invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukraine requested that Elon Musk activate SpaceX’s Starlink satellites for use in Ukraine.

Musk responded immediately: “Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.”

With that, Ukraine gained access to critical communication and internet networks. The effective use of SpaceX’s Starlink on the battlefield forced Moscow to develop new tactics for detecting and neutralizing the signals.