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China has reportedly achieved a successful test of technology designed to suppress and disrupt satellite internet communication. The capability focuses on overwhelming low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellations such as Starlink.
Simulating Advanced Electronic Warfare
The experiment was conducted by researchers from Zhejiang University and the Beijing Institute of Technology. The team simulated a demanding operational scenario where the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) would need to neutralize an opponent`s access to Starlink connectivity over a territory comparable in size to Taiwan.
The scientists were successful in blocking the internet signal, but emphasized that achieving this required the coordinated deployment of a substantial amount of equipment.
Researchers pointed out that LEO satellite networks, including Starlink, present a unique challenge for electronic warfare (EW) efforts because their coverage maps are constantly changing, making traditional fixed-point jamming less effective.
The Electromagnetic Shield Concept
To counter the mobility of satellite networks, the Chinese scientists proposed establishing an effective EW system by deploying up to 2,000 synchronized jamming devices.
The researchers stated that “hundreds or thousands of small synchronized jammers will need to be deployed across the sky—on drones, balloons, or aircraft.” This massive, coordinated effort would effectively create an “electromagnetic shield” over the target area, completely suppressing incoming satellite signals.
Specifically, the simulation determined that for a successful blockade of satellite internet over the modeled territory, 935 highly coordinated jammers would be needed under ideal conditions. However, if the military were to utilize cheaper or less sophisticated jamming equipment, the required number of deployed drones would increase to approximately 2,000 units.
Barnaby Whitfield