China recently unveiled an advanced anti-satellite missile system capable of targeting critical satellite networks such as Starlink, a development that could reshape the balance of the conflict over Taiwan and put the space deterrence capabilities of the United States and its allies to a real test.
non-explosive weapons
According to the Asia Times, the TPG1000C system represents a paradigm shift in high-power microwave (HPM) technology, which relies on destroying space and electronic systems without direct physical destruction, making it a high-impact non-kinetic weapon.
Super powerful mobile platform
The system was developed at the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology in Xi’an. Weighing about 5 tons and measuring around 4 meters long, it could be deployed in trucks, ships, planes, and even space in the future.
unprecedented energy
The TPG1000C can generate up to 20 gigawatts of power in 60 seconds and simultaneously emit more than 3,000 electromagnetic pulses in a single run. This far exceeds the capabilities of previous systems, which have limited range and impact.
How can I neutralize the enemy?
HPM weapons rely on destructively increasing voltages and currents within electronic circuits, which permanently or completely destroys sensitive components, rather than being satisfied with temporary interference.
Taiwan is at the center of the target
The weapon could play a decisive role in China’s military operations against Taiwan by paralyzing command and control centers, radar facilities, missile defense systems, power grids, and communications networks.
War of systems, not battles
These attacks are expected to be carried out in conjunction with intense cyberattacks as part of China’s transition from equipment-to-equipment to system-to-system concepts within its Multi-Domain Warfare (MDPW) doctrine, which integrates land, sea, air, space, cyber, and electromagnetic domains.
western reaction
The United States and its allies have technologies to mitigate this threat, including quantum inertial navigation, atomic clocks, and gravimeters and magnetometers to reduce reliance on jammable GPS signals.
A new deterrence equation
Experts believe we should focus on flexibility, redundancy, and space awareness, rather than trying to thwart each attack individually, while employing three deterrence strategies:
Denial deterrence, hybrid deterrence, and offensive deterrence are all based on maintaining multi-domain response options and increasing cooperation with allies to ensure stability in space.
