Chinese professor spoke about the creation of anti-satellite weapons
The arms race is entering near-earth space, the militarization of outer space continues. According to the South China Morning Post, the new anti-satellite weapon developed in China.
Chinese designers have developed a new robotic device capable of penetrating the nozzles of spacecraft engines and placing explosives in them. The project is classified, but some details about the new weapon were revealed by Professor Sun Yongzhong in his article for Electronic Technology & Software Engineering magazine in September.
According to the publication, the new device, developed by specialists from the Hunan Defense Polytechnic Institute and, as it is claimed, has already been successfully tested, is intended for the controlled detonation of enemy spacecraft in orbit. The device, equipped with explosives, penetrates the engine nozzle, is fixed there and awaits the command to detonate.
After activation, the device detonates, while the blast wave is directed inside the device, thereby incapacitating the satellite. Outside, the nozzle remains intact and the detonation can be mistaken for an engine malfunction.
It is noted that new weapons are being developed as part of a project to create new warheads, tests were carried out at a ground facility. It is not known whether the new device was launched into space to conduct "full-scale tests," but the day before, the Shijian-21 spacecraft was sent into orbit to clean up space debris.
Several countries are actively engaged in the development of anti-satellite weapons; the United States, Russia and China have achieved the greatest successes to date. India, which is actively developing anti-satellite missiles, and France, which gives preference to laser systems, is stepping on their heels.
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