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Tensions Rise Between China and U.S.: Chinese Military Warns Elon Musk That Its Stealth Submarines With Laser Weapons Could Take Down Starlink Satellites Undetected

Written by Flavia Marinho
Published on 24/07/2024 at 21:56
Elon Musk - china - starlink - EUA - satélite
Exército chinês revela tecnologia surpreendente para destruir partes da constelação da Starlink, que conta com mais de 2.300 satélites em órbita
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Imagine a scenario where futuristic technology comes out of the pages of science fiction and into the reality of geopolitical disputes: submerged submarines, invisible to radar, equipped with laser weapons capable of taking down orbiting satellites. This is the warning that China has just issued to Elon Musk, further intensifying tensions with the U.S.

In a revealing study, Chinese scientists from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) detail how this cutting-edge technology could transform the balance of power in space and threaten the security of networks like SpaceX’s Starlink. Discover how this innovation could change the future of technological warfare and its implications for global security.

Scientists from the People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA) conducted studies that indicate Chinese submarines, equipped with laser weapons, could destroy SpaceX satellites if China’s security is at risk. This finding was published in a peer-reviewed article in the Chinese journal Command Control & Simulation, detailing how submarines equipped with megawatt lasers can target satellites while remaining submerged.

The study, led by Professor Wang Dan from the Submarine Academy, describes a submarine armed with a megawatt-class solid-state laser that can fire at satellites and then hide again at the seabed. The research emphasizes that the greatest challenge in anti-satellite operations is concealing the attack, normally carried out by ground-to-air missiles, which leave visible traces and are easily detected.

The researchers explain that surface operations are risky due to the high visibility of missile launches, which leave smoke trails and reveal the attackers’ location. Wang and her team note that the satellites of SpaceX’s Starlink program are small, numerous, and densely clustered, making the network resilient and difficult to dismantle by missiles.

Not Only China but Also the U.S. Consider Submarines for Anti-Satellite Attacks

Directed energy weapons, such as lasers and microwave systems, are viewed as the only effective way to target a large number of objects in low Earth orbit (LEO). Recently, China claimed to have developed a compact power source that could significantly reduce the size of a microwave weapon capable of taking down satellites. Elon Musk

Not only China but also researchers from the United States are considering the use of submarines for anti-satellite attacks. An article from the U.S. Naval Institute, published earlier this year, highlighted the stealth of submarines in such operations. Directed energy technologies on nuclear submarines could enable offensive space attacks while remaining hidden beneath the ocean’s surface.

China Fears That SpaceX, Elon Musk’s, Is Building a Spy Satellite Network for the United States

The PLA study includes a step-by-step guide for attacking satellites like those from Starlink from the sea. The process involves sending submarines equipped with lasers to specific maritime areas, waiting for the satellites to enter strike range. The laser weapon is raised and fires at the right moment, with positional guidance provided by other forces. After the attack, the submarine submerges again, waiting for new missions or returning to base.

While the study specifically mentions Starlink satellites, it does not detail why they would pose a threat to Chinese security. Previous reports suggest that China fears that SpaceX, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, is building a spy satellite network for the United States. This concern has escalated with the launch of the Starshield program, a collaboration between SpaceX and the Pentagon to track Chinese hypersonic weapons.

Ukraine has been using the Starlink system, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, to maintain military communications during the Russian invasion, an example that worries China, fearing similar use by Taiwan in the event of conflict. Chinese military experts warn that future Starlink satellites could carry additional payloads for military operations, such as electronic interference and reconnaissance.

With over 2,300 satellites in orbit, the Starlink network is considered resilient, typically functioning normally even with the loss of some satellites. Chinese researchers suggest a combination of destruction methods to disable parts of the constellation and compromise its operational system in potential future conflicts.

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jinnah khan cid
25/08/2025 15:17

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Flavia Marinho

Flavia Marinho é Engenheira pós-graduada, com vasta experiência na indústria de construção naval onshore e offshore. Nos últimos anos, tem se dedicado a escrever artigos para sites de notícias nas áreas militar, segurança, indústria, petróleo e gás, energia, construção naval, geopolítica, empregos e cursos. Entre em contato com flaviacamil@gmail.com ou WhatsApp +55 21 973996379 para correções, sugestão de pauta, divulgação de vagas de emprego ou proposta de publicidade em nosso portal.

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