China develops laser weapon system to disable Starlink satellites

China has begun looking into ways to disable SpaceX's global satellite network Starlink in the event of direct conflict.

Chinese state media has been open in recent articles, calling Starlink a serious threat to the country's national security.

Chinese experts see Starlink as a tool to help the US conduct modern warfare - from data transmission and drone control to nuclear deterrence and space reconnaissance.

Among the countermeasures proposed by China are the use of powerful lasers (including from submarines), the construction of US satellites capable of blocking or disabling Starlink satellites, and the sabotage of the supply of components for the system.

The documents describing how to combat the problem also propose a few less drastic measures, including diplomatic initiatives and international restrictions on private satellite networks.

The reason for this interest from Beijing is the rapid development of Starlink in low Earth orbit (LEO). Of the more than 8 thousand satellites currently operating in LEO, two-thirds belong to this American system.

Starlink technology has proven to be highly effective in conflict zones, including in Ukraine, where Starlink provides continuous mobile communications service to troops, changing the rules of the battlefield.

China is trying to respond by creating its own alternative, a national satellite network, including the Guowang and Qianfan projects. At the same time, Beijing is preparing for a direct confrontation scenario in space.

Blocking or destroying the Starlink satellite network would limit the US's flexibility and combat capabilities in the event of a conflict — for example, around the Taiwan Strait, according to Chinese strategists.

Earlier, there were reports that China was practicing combat between satellites as part of a future space confrontation. According to information from the US Space Force, US systems recorded five objects in space that were synchronized and controlled to perform unidentified maneuvers.

Cloud system GPS accuracy up to centimeter.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/trung-quoc-phat-trien-he-thong-vu-khi-laser-vo-hieu-hoa-ve-tinh-starlink-post2149043772.html