China’s People Liberation Army (PLA) has sparked international attention with a provocative claim: PLA submarines equipped with laser weapons could potentially destroy SpaceX’s Starlink satellites if China’s security is threatened. This groundbreaking concept proposes a submarine fitted with a solid-state, megawatt-class laser weapon capable of firing at satellites while remaining underwater, thus offering a novel approach to anti-satellite operations.
The study, led by Professor Wang Dan of the Naval Submarine Academy, was published in the peer-reviewed Chinese-language journal Command Control & Simulation. The research outlines a future scenario where laser-equipped submarines could be mass-produced and deployed in various oceans to counter military threats to China. As reported by the South China Morning Post, the key innovation lies in the submarine’s ability to raise its “optoelectronic mast” to fire at satellites and then retract it before diving back to the ocean floor, thus maintaining a stealthy presence.
The research highlights a significant challenge in anti-satellite operations: the difficulty of concealing the attack rather than merely destroying the satellite. “Currently, the primary means of anti-satellite operations rely on ground-to-air missiles, but this approach has certain issues, mainly in terms of concealment,” the report states. Surface-based missile launches are easily detectable due to extensive smoke trails, revealing the attacker’s location and making them vulnerable to counterattacks.
Submarines as Stealthy Laser Platforms
The PLA research emphasizes that submarine-based laser weapons could mitigate these risks. Unlike surface attacks, a submarine can remain hidden underwater, only exposing its laser mast briefly to engage targets. This method reduces the likelihood of detection and retaliation. Furthermore, the study points out the inefficiency of using missiles against resilient satellite networks like Starlink, which comprises numerous small and densely packed satellites. Destroying a few satellites would not significantly impair the network due to its redundancy.
Space researchers have long warned about the potential use of directed-energy weapons, including lasers and powerful microwave systems, to target satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Such weapons are the only means capable of engaging a large number of LEO targets effectively.
Anti-Satellite Capabilities
The concept of submarines equipped with directed-energy weapons is not exclusive to China. Earlier this year, the US Naval Institute published an article discussing the strategic advantage of submarine stealth in anti-satellite operations. The article noted that while direct-ascent interceptors like those used in Operation Burnt Frost are effective, they are costly and limited in their capacity to handle large numbers of targets in a major conflict.
The reliability of directed-energy technologies has been a subject of intense research. Nuclear-powered submarines equipped with such weapons could potentially play a critical role in offensive space warfare, offering a stealthy and sustainable platform for anti-satellite missions.
The PLA research provides a detailed step-by-step guide for executing a submarine-based laser attack on satellites. Initially, one or more laser-equipped submarines are dispatched to the designated maritime area. These submarines then wait for satellites to pass into their attack range. The timing for raising the laser weapon is synchronized with the satellite’s overhead pass.
“Due to the limitations of the submarine’s detection equipment, other forces are required to provide satellite position guidance for the submarine to attack the satellite,” the report explains. After the attack, the submarine can submerge and await further instructions or return to its home port.
Why Target Starlink?
Although the PLA research specifically mentions Starlink, it does not explicitly explain why it poses a threat to China’s security. However, previous reports have indicated China’s concerns about SpaceX’s satellite network. Starlink’s role in enhancing military communications, as observed in the Ukraine conflict, has raised alarms in China. There is widespread speculation that Taiwan could also leverage Starlink for military purposes in the event of a conflict with China.
The primary function of Starlink satellites is to provide communication services. However, some Chinese military experts fear that future Starlink satellites could be equipped with additional payloads for military operations, such as electronic interference and reconnaissance. This apprehension has been exacerbated by the Starshield program, a collaboration between SpaceX and the Pentagon, aimed at tracking China’s hypersonic weapons.
In 2021, two Starlink satellites made a hazardous approach to the Chinese space station, forcing astronauts to initiate emergency procedures. This incident reinforced Beijing’s concerns about the potential military applications of these low-cost satellites.
Earlier research led by Ren Yuanzhen from the Beijing Institute of Tracking and Telecommunications suggested that China should be capable of disabling or destroying Starlink satellites if they threaten national security. The proposed approach included a combination of “soft and hard kill methods” to disrupt the satellite network’s functionality.
The PLA’s recent research highlights a significant advancement in the realm of anti-satellite warfare. Submarine-based laser weapons offer a stealthy and potentially effective means to counter satellite networks like Starlink. However, this development also underscores the escalating tensions in space and the increasing militarization of satellite technologies.
As global powers continue to explore and develop advanced anti-satellite capabilities, the strategic dynamics of space warfare are set to evolve. The potential deployment of submarine-based laser weapons represents a new frontier in this ongoing technological and geopolitical competition.
