At Least Three Domestic Large-Scale Mobile Ground-Based High-Power Microwave Directed Energy Weapons Debuted at China’s Air Show This Year
Unique Advantages of Microwave “Mosquito Repellent”
High-power microwave weapons are a new type of weaponry that emits high-power electromagnetic pulses in a directed manner to interfere with and damage precision electronic instruments and electronic equipment of the enemy, and even injure enemy personnel. Its principle involves using high-energy microwave pulses operating at 1-300 GHz with a radiation power of tens of gigawatts to destroy key electronic components, circuits, and sensors in the enemy’s electronic information system, detonate warheads and fuel depots, or cause physiological discomfort to enemy personnel.
High-Power Microwave Weapons Displayed in the Armament Hall.
The emergence of such weapons was quite accidental. On July 9, 1963, the United States conducted an air-based nuclear explosion test 400 kilometers above Johnston Island in the Pacific. As a result, hundreds of alarms in Honolulu, more than 1,000 kilometers away, all malfunctioned, and all lighting transformers on Oahu Island were burned out. Long-distance shortwave communications between Honolulu and Wake Island were also suddenly interrupted. Additionally, the Hawaiian Islands, approximately 1,300 kilometers away from the explosion center, and even further away, Australia, were affected, with various electrical appliances malfunctioning almost simultaneously. Similarly, the Soviet Union also experienced damaged electronic equipment during related nuclear tests. After research, scientists finally discovered that nuclear bombs, at the moment of explosion, ionize a large number of high-speed electrons from the atmosphere, subsequently generating powerful electric and magnetic fields in the air. It was these instantaneously generated electromagnetic fields, propagating at the speed of light, that produced extremely destructive electromagnetic pulses, causing induced electromagnetic fields in electronic equipment on the ground, which then burned out the electronic equipment. This discovery was a revelation to major military powers, and since then, weaponizing electromagnetic pulses has become one of the goals pursued by various countries.
PLB-625E Vehicle-Mounted Microwave Weapon System.
In recent years, with the rapid development of drone technology, militaries worldwide have increasingly used drones for reconnaissance and attacks on the battlefield. Taking the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict as an example, both sides have employed drones at various levels, ranging from long-range strike drones to suicide drone attacks on frontline troops. Meanwhile, the use of drone systems in other conflicts, such as in the Middle East and its surrounding areas, is also increasing. These developments have made militaries around the world acutely aware of the urgency to expand their defenses against drone threats. However, traditional air defense systems are not always effective against these small, agile aerial targets. In this context, high-energy microwave weapons have emerged as a new means of anti-drone warfare and have demonstrated significant advantages in actual combat.
In anti-drone operations, the advantages of high-energy microwave weapons are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
Firstly, rapid response. High-energy microwave weapons can quickly lock onto and attack targets as soon as they enter the range, which is particularly suitable for rapidly approaching drone swarms. This characteristic is extremely important when dealing with drones that move swiftly, are small in size, and have irregular trajectories.
Secondly, wide attack range. High-energy microwave weapons can generate electromagnetic pulses that cover a large area and can simultaneously attack multiple drones. Especially when dealing with drone swarms, there is no need to lock onto targets one by one, significantly improving interception efficiency. This capability can effectively weaken the enemy’s air power in the case of swarm drone attacks.
Thirdly, efficient and repeatable use. Unlike traditional missile interception methods, high-energy microwave weapons do not consume ammunition and can be launched continuously multiple times, thus having lower usage costs. This makes it highly cost-effective for anti-drone purposes, especially in battlefield environments where drone attacks are frequent, and its economic advantages are very prominent.
Fourthly, non-lethality. Compared to kinetic weapons such as missiles and artillery shells, high-energy microwave weapons cause less harm to personnel and do not trigger physical explosions or produce large amounts of debris. This characteristic makes high-energy microwave weapons have significant advantages in combat environments where civilians and infrastructure need to be protected, and they are more suitable for use in complex environments such as cities.
Key Anti-Drone Equipment Competitively Developed by Multiple Countries
Currently, some countries have made achievements in high-energy microwave weapons. For example, the United States started early in this field and began noticing the military application potential of microwaves in the 1980s. The U.S. military has always regarded high-power microwave weapons as one of the key technologies and has invested significant resources in research and development. In 2006, the U.S. developed a high-energy microwave weapon for anti-missile purposes, which can generate broadband pulsed microwave energy and has the capability to interfere with electronic equipment within a 160-kilometer range and destroy electronic equipment within a 10-20 kilometer range. BAE Systems in the UK also has world-class research and production capabilities in high-power microwave sources and microwave weapons. In 2008, BAE Systems launched a mobile, multi-purpose, compact, fully integrated high-power microwave weapon. On the BAE Systems website, one can see its product named Bofors HPM Blackout, which has a power of GW level, a length of less than 2.5 meters, and three types of antenna apertures: 0.6 meters, 0.8 meters, and 0.9 meters. The system is battery-powered and can be deployed in various terrains.
Meanwhile, with the Houthi armed forces frequently launching ship attacks in the Red Sea recently, the U.S. military, which mainly uses the “Standard” series of missiles as interception means, has felt significant cost pressure. Therefore, they have shown unprecedented enthusiasm for the more affordable high-power microwave weapons. The U.S. military believes that such weapons can not only intercept incoming enemy drones and anti-ship cruise missiles but also have a good effect on anti-ship ballistic missiles. Research shows that high-power microwave weapons can destroy the photoelectric/infrared, radar guidance systems, and radio fuses of anti-ship ballistic missiles, thereby reducing the threat of such weapons. Previous reports stated that the U.S. Navy hopes to have a prototype of a high-power microwave weapon by the end of 2026 for shipboard testing, which will also be the first high-power microwave weapon for the U.S. Navy.
Rumors about China’s development of microwave weapons have occasionally appeared on the internet in recent years. It was only at this China Air Show, with the public display of domestically produced microwave weapons, that their true nature was revealed.
According to the introduction, China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO) unveiled two high-power microwave weapon systems at this event – “Hurricane 2000” and “Hurricane 3000”. The former consists of a large planar array installed on the top of an 8×8 light armored vehicle chassis, and the system is also equipped with a small rotating radar, likely used for target detection and tracking. Its chassis appears to be the same as or a variant or derivative of the vehicle used in the 625E self-propelled short-range air defense system. The latter is larger than the former and is installed on a Shaanxi Automobile SX2400/2500 series 8×8 truck, also including a planar array and radar. A video played at the scene showed a small drone being shot down by one of the systems. At the same time, footage from an infrared camera was also visible. Photoelectric and infrared cameras are usually combined with directed energy anti-drone systems to help accurately identify and track targets. It is estimated that “Hurricane 2000” should be mainly used for field maneuvering and accompanying air defense, while “Hurricane 3000” may be used for fixed-point air defense tasks in key areas.
CASIC’s FK-4000 Vehicle-Mounted High-Power Microwave Weapon.
Additionally, photos of a third high-power microwave weapon system appeared at this air show. This system comes from China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) and is also installed on a Shaanxi Automobile SX2400/2500 series truck. The microwave array is installed on a differently styled articulated bracket at the rear of the vehicle, and sensors such as radars should also be inside the dome on the retractable mast at the end of the cab.
It is evident that China has made significant breakthroughs in the field of high-energy microwave weapons and is beginning to enter the international arms market. With the increasing frequency of the use of drones, cruise missiles, and other weapons in modern warfare, the demand for means to counter these threats is also growing among countries. High-energy microwave weapons, as a cost-effective option with strong anti-drone capabilities, may attract global attention. In the future, China has the potential to become a leading country in the export of such equipment.