Up to 100 gigawatts: China unveils its high-power microwave weapon arsenal

China’s high-power microwave (HPM) weapons can deliver an output of up to 100 gigawatts (GW), according to defence scientists – a milestone that could transform the future of warfare and stimulate advancements in civilian research and industry.

In a paper published this month in the journal High Power Laser and Particle Beams, researchers from the National University of Defence Technology (NUDT) detailed a series of advanced pulsed-power devices built by China’s military in recent years.

This is a rare public disclosure by the Chinese military of its high-power microwave arsenal.

“In recent years, driven by sustained and significant national strategic demands, China’s pulsed-power technology has advanced rapidly. The breadth and depth of research in this field now rank among the world’s foremost,” wrote the researchers, led by Zhang Jun of NUDT’s College of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies.

“Pulsed-power drivers for HPM generation have transitioned from laboratory prototypes to practical applications, evolving progressively from ‘functional’ to ‘high-performance’ and ‘durable’ systems,” they wrote.

The paper could serve as a reference for other nations assessing the vulnerabilities of massive satellite constellations.