Chinese scientists claim to have created a powerful 'Death Star' capable of electromagnetic powerful beams. The weapon, similar to the one in Star Wars, may be able to destroy enemy satellites in orbit.
Secretive academic journals, according to the South China Morning Post, show the weapon, which uses an array of seven microwave-firing "vehicles", has now completed experimental trials for potential military applications thanks to breakthroughs in "ultra-high time precision synchronisation".
The science-fiction-inspired weapon combines pulses of microwave radiation into a single powerful beam. The beam must hit the exact same target within 170 trillionths of a second – more precise than atomic clocks on advanced GPS satellites.
The weapon has been developed by the Xian Navigation Technology Research Institute under the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation. The company has been a major provider of electronic warfare weapons for the People's Liberation Army in the past.
Scientists say most microwave weapons are not good in combat due to power limitations. However, the use of fibre optic cables means Chinese scientists achieved a time synchronisation accuracy of 10 trillionths of a second over a distance of 1,100 miles (1,800km).
Studies have found that a weapon capable of delivering just one gigawatt of power would be enough to do serious damage to satellites in near-Earth orbit.
While 'Death Star' weapons are cheap to operate and don't use any projectiles they difficult to target and use at longer ranges.
Rather than use projectiles or explosives, the 'Death Star' weapon uses intense bursts of electromagnetic radiation to disrupt electrical circuits.
Other countries have similar electromagnetic weapons. The British Dragonfire laser weapon is strong enough to shoot a drone out of the air and accurate enough to hit a £1 coin from half a mile away.
The Tactical High-Power Operational Responder (THOR), developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Lab, uses wide bursts of energy to take out entire swarms of drones. The weapon is designed to shut down Russian or Chinese communications at the start of a conflict.
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