China's Solar Energy Orbital Station May Serve as Electronic Warfare Tool

There is a possibility that China's upcoming orbital station designed for solar energy collection may also operate as a tool for electronic warfare. As reported by Interesting Engineering, Professor Duan Baoyan, from the University of Xidian and the chief architect of the Chinese initiative known as the Solar Hunt, has updated the project's architecture.

In a recent report, the scientist noted that the upgraded system would be capable of performing a range of additional tasks, "such as communication, navigation, reconnaissance, interference, and remote control," alongside its primary function of transmitting energy to Earth. This indicates that the new station will not only provide energy but could also become a crucial element in military operations.

The Solar Space Power Station (SSPS) is designed to collect sunlight in space and redirect it to ground receivers in the form of powerful microwave beams. This capability transforms the SSPS into a potential weapon, as reported by the South China Morning Post. Theoretically, the Chinese military could target beams at foreign communication systems to jam signals or use them to protect their own communications.

Importantly, space-based power stations have a significant advantage over terrestrial ones. The sun shines continuously in orbit, regardless of weather conditions or time of day. This means that energy can be available at any moment, making such stations extremely attractive for utilization.

Looking ahead, China is considering the creation of a space aircraft carrier and plans to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon in the 2030s while testing electromagnetic launch systems instead of traditional rockets, according to Interesting Engineering. These ambitious plans indicate that China intends to become a leader in space technologies and military innovations.

The technology for wireless energy transmission from orbit is currently of interest not only to China. The American agency NASA is developing its own concept for a modular station, and the California Institute of Technology launched a working prototype of the system into space last year. The European Space Agency is also conducting its own research. However, for all countries, the main obstacle remains the complexity of constructing kilometer-long structures in orbit and managing beams over distances of tens of thousands of kilometers.