Chinese scientists develop small but powerful electric pulse weapon
By Elegbede Abiodun
Chinese scientists have developed a small electric pulse device that can reportedly generate high-power electricity. However, initial experiments with the device resulted in short circuits that burned the hard insulators. The team faced other challenges, including making the device function efficiently without catastrophic failure.
Small size, big power
The new device is led by Shu Ting, associated with the National University of Defense Technology. The compact size of the electric pulse device and all its components, including capacitors and a control system, can even be accommodated on a bookshelf easily.
Issues in development
While the power device could be connected continuously to a city power grid, generating high-power electricity in a small device can be challenging for Chinese scientists. The flow of electricity at an extremely high voltage resulted in short circuits that burned the hardened insulators during the early experiments. The stringent constraints posed further difficulties for switches and insulating materials.
Defensive measures
The Chinese military recently accelerated the development of high-power microwave weapons in response to SpaceX’s Starlink satellites’ effective use against Russia in Ukraine. Defense Analyst Ben Lewis noted that China is concerned about the potential utility of Starlink for Taiwan or in a Taiwan contingency situation.
Lewis also mentioned that Anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons play an important part in modern conventional war, especially for China, since the United States maintains a robust satellite array for reconnaissance and communications, which helps facilitate operations far from home.
Source : NNN
