China's 20 GW microwave weapon could fry satellites in seconds

Chinese researchers at the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology (NINT) in Xian have developed a groundbreaking compact high-power microwave (HPM) weapon system, designated TPG1000Cs, capable of delivering 20 gigawatts of power continuously for up to one minute. This represents a significant advancement over previous systems, which could only sustain firing for about three seconds. The TPG1000Cs is notably compact—just four meters long and weighing five tons—due to its aluminum alloy construction and innovative dual-U-shaped design that efficiently recycles energy. This compactness allows it to be mounted on various platforms, including trucks, aircraft, and potentially satellites, enabling rapid targeting of enemy satellites from the ground or space. The system can emit up to 3,000 high-energy pulses in a single session, far surpassing the pulse capacity of comparable devices like Russia’s Sinus7, which delivers roughly 100 pulses per burst and weighs about 10 tons. The TPG1000Cs has