China has developed a compact pulse-power microwave driver that could be used to launch high-power microwave attacks in space. This technology is smaller and potentially more difficult to detect and trace compared to traditional anti-satellite weapons. The advancement may give China a strategic edge in the development of space-based military capabilities.
The device could enable new forms of electronic attacks targeting satellites, raising concerns about the future of space security. Its compact size suggests it could be deployed more easily on various platforms, increasing the potential reach and impact of such weapons.
**Why this matters**
The development of compact microwave weapons represents a shift in space warfare technology, focusing on electronic disruption rather than physical destruction. This could complicate efforts to monitor and respond to space threats, as these attacks may leave less evidence and be harder to attribute. As China advances in this area, it may influence the balance of power among nations with space capabilities, particularly the United States and Russia.
Source: NewsData