Chinese defense researchers have reportedly developed a new high-power microwave (HPM) weapon system that could mark a significant leap forward in non-kinetic military technology. The system, described as a microwave gun, is capable of firing over 10,000 times without mechanical or electrical failure, according to reports from research institutions involved in the project.
Developed by a team at the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology (NINT), the HPM weapon emits extremely powerful microwave beams designed to disable or destroy the electronic components of a wide range of targets, including drones, missiles, aircraft, and potentially even low-Earth orbit satellites. By targeting the electrical circuits of these systems, the microwave pulses can render sophisticated technology inoperable without the need for traditional explosives or direct physical contact.
According to technical details shared by researchers, the weapon can deliver between 10 and 30 microwave pulses per second, with each pulse carrying hundreds of megawatts of power. The system as a whole is powered by a pulsed current generator capable of producing three gigawatts of energy—equivalent to the output of a small nuclear reactor in instantaneous bursts.
While the performance metrics are striking, some critical aspects of the system remain unclear. Notably, the precise nature of the energy source that sustains the high firing rate has not been publicly disclosed. Experts suggest that while the weapon’s capabilities are impressive in a laboratory setting, its power requirements and size may still limit its practicality in battlefield conditions or mobile platforms.
Nonetheless, the development points to China’s ongoing efforts to advance directed energy technologies as part of its broader military modernization campaign. If operationally deployed, such weapons could provide the Chinese military with new tools for disabling enemy assets without causing direct physical destruction—a potentially transformative shift in modern electronic warfare.
Source: Technical details were reported by researchers from the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology and cited in Chinese defense publications.
