Microwave Weapon TPG1000Cs: Stirring the Satellite Waters

In the North West Institute of Nuclear Technology in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, lies an unassuming device named TPG1000Cs. It is the world’s first compact driver for powerful microwave weapons capable of disrupting satellites in low Earth orbit, including Starlink units. This was reported by the South China Morning Post. Developed by the North West Institute of Nuclear Technology in Xi’an, the installation boasts a peak power of up to 20 GW and can operate in pulses for a record-setting one minute.

Unlike previous systems, which could function for no more than three seconds, TPG1000Cs generates up to 3,000 high-energy pulses in one cycle. This intensity, developers estimate, allows not only to create interference but also to potentially disable electronic systems of satellites in low orbits, disrupting communication and navigation. Yet, the complex remains relatively compact: about four meters in length and weighing around five tons. This allows it to be mounted on trucks, military ships, aircraft, and even satellites.

The publication notes that if TPG1000Cs is deployed in space, its strikes will become more covert and harder to detect, significantly enhancing the system’s military potential.