China reveals military capabilities in new space solar power plant design
A senior scientist reveals the dual-use design can target signals for electronic warfare from orbit.
A senior Chinese scientist has provided a rare public glimpse into the military applications of the country's ambitious space-based solar power program. Duan Baoyan, a leading architect of China's 'Zhuri' initiative and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, published a paper revealing that the revamped design for the giant orbital infrastructure is required to support a wide range of tasks beyond energy transmission, including 'communication, navigation, reconnaissance, interference and remote control.' This explicitly frames the technology as dual-use.
The core technical capability enabling these military functions is the system's extremely narrow, precisely steerable microwave beams. While primarily designed to improve the efficiency and accuracy of beaming solar power from space to Earth over long distances, Duan notes these same beams could, in principle, be used for targeted signal transmission. This opens the door to potential applications in electronic warfare, such as jamming enemy communications or securing friendly ones, all from a persistent orbital platform. The disclosure underscores how China's push to lead in space-based solar power—a technology that promises near-continuous clean energy collection—is intrinsically linked to advancements in strategic military capabilities.
- Duan Baoyan, a lead scientist on China's 'Zhuri' space solar initiative, published the findings in Scientia Sinica Informationis.
- The system's revamped design uses precisely steerable microwave beams capable of supporting reconnaissance and electronic warfare.
- This reveals a clear dual-use path where energy infrastructure could also jam or secure military communications from orbit.
Why It Matters
It blurs the line between civilian energy projects and military tech, signaling a new frontier for strategic advantage and electronic warfare.