China will have built a weapon inspired by the Death Star from Star Wars

Chinese researchers claim to have created a weapons system reminiscent of the Death Star from Star Wars, where multiple beams of energy combine into a single force capable of reaching and potentially destroying objects.

This new technology, however, does not use lasers, but rather high power microwave beams. The proposed system involves several microwave transmitting vehicles placed at various locations. These vehicles fire precisely synchronized microwave beams that converge on a target, creating a concentrated energy attack.

Timing and positioning are critical to the functionality of the system, explains . The microwave beams must fire in synchronization, with timing precision measured in picoseconds – trillionths of a second.

For context, a computer needs about 330 picoseconds to complete a single processing cycle. Furthermore, vehicles must be positioned with millimeter precision to ensure beam alignment.

In the technology developed by Chinese scientists, writes , positioning is achieved through auxiliary laser ranging devicestogether with the BeiDou satellite navigation system.

While BeiDou can offer centimeter-level accuracy, the laser ranging system makes it reach the millimeter scale. The vehicles are also connected via fiber optics to ensure synchronization and a mobile command center directly controls the entire configuration.

Scientists say the combined microwave beams produce an effect described as “1+1>2”, suggesting that their convergence amplifies the overall power beyond the sum of the individual inputs. This idea, although intriguing, appears to contradict the law of conservation of energy, raising questions about the veracity of the Chinese claim.

Microwave technology has its limitations. Microwaves are easily dispersed by environmental factors such as dust and humidity, which reduces their effectiveness over long distances. Although increasing power can alleviate this situation, current energy storage technologies, such as batteries, do not have the capacity to support the required power levels.

It is likely that the researchers were able to successfully demonstrate the system in controlled environments, where conditions can be optimized for greater accuracy. However, replicating this success in real environments is another matter.