In early 2026, Chinese researchers reported a major advance in high-power microwave technology. According to coverage by the South China Morning Post, scientists at the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology in Xi’an have built a compact system capable of producing microwave bursts with peak power of up to 20 gigawatts, sustained for as long as 60 seconds.
For a field where extreme power levels are usually limited to very short pulses, the combination of high output, long duration, and relatively compact size stands out. If the reported performance holds up under continued testing, it points to a meaningful step forward in how high-power microwave systems can be designed, stabilized, and potentially applied.
Beyond the headline numbers, the story is also about long-term research capacity. Achievements of this kind rarely appear suddenly. They are typically the result of decades of institutional investment, accumulated expertise, and teams that specialize in some of the most demanding areas of electrical engineering and applied physics.
What Chinese Researchers Have Built
The reported system is described as a pulsed-power microwave driver capable of generating peak output of 20 GW while operating continuously for up to 60 seconds. The device measures roughly 4 meters in length and weighs about 5 tonnes, which makes it significantly more compact than many earlier experimental systems designed to reach similar power levels.
What makes this notable is not just the peak power. High-power microwave systems have reached very high outputs before, but usually only for extremely short durations. Maintaining stability for a full minute requires addressing problems that tend to limit such systems, including electrical breakdown, heat buildup, and component fatigue.
The researchers reportedly achieved this through improvements in energy storage, insulation materials, and system design that allow the device to release power in a controlled and sustained way. As is common with advanced research tied to national laboratories, detailed specifications such as efficiency, range, and deployment plans have not been made public.
How High-Power Microwave Systems Work
At a basic level, high-power microwave systems store electrical energy and then release it very rapidly to generate intense microwave radiation. The energy is accumulated over time and discharged through specialized components that convert it into electromagnetic waves at microwave frequencies.
The engineering challenge lies in managing extremely high voltages and currents without damaging the system itself. Electrical insulation, switching speed, heat dissipation, and structural integrity all become critical as power levels increase. Even small weaknesses can lead to breakdown or failure.
Unlike lasers, which interact mainly with physical surfaces, microwave systems interact most strongly with electronic components. Their effects depend on factors such as frequency, pulse structure, distance, and how well the target electronics are shielded. Because of this, overall system performance depends on much more than raw power output alone.
Why the 20 GW and 60-Second Combination Matters
The importance of the reported system becomes clearer when power and duration are considered together. A peak output of 20 GW is impressive, but what truly sets the system apart is the claim that this output can be sustained for 60 seconds.
Many earlier systems could reach high power only briefly before overheating or suffering electrical damage. Extending operation to tens of seconds suggests progress in materials, cooling, and system stability. It also narrows the gap between laboratory demonstrations and systems that could be used in more practical settings.
At the same time, peak power figures should not be confused with the amount of energy that ultimately reaches a target. Losses during conversion and transmission can be substantial. Still, from an engineering standpoint, the reported performance indicates that Chinese researchers have pushed past several long-standing technical barriers.
The Role of Institutions and Talent
The Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology is a central player in China’s high-energy and pulsed-power research landscape. Work of this kind depends heavily on institutions that can support long-term projects, expensive infrastructure, and highly specialized teams.
Developing advanced pulsed-power systems requires expertise in high-voltage physics, materials science, electromagnetic modeling, and systems integration. These skills take years to develop and are typically concentrated in a small number of research centers worldwide.
In this sense, the reported system reflects more than a single technical achievement. It highlights the importance of sustained investment in people, facilities, and institutional continuity. Complex technologies at this scale are built by teams that accumulate knowledge over time, refining designs through repeated experimentation.
Possible Applications and Broader Context
High-power microwave technology has attracted interest globally because modern infrastructure relies heavily on electronics. Communications networks, radar systems, satellites, and unmanned platforms all depend on sensitive electronic components.
In open discussions, microwave systems are often associated with electronic warfare and system testing rather than physical destruction. They can be used to study how electronics behave under intense electromagnetic exposure and to explore ways of protecting critical systems.
China is not alone in pursuing this line of research. Similar work has been underway for decades in the United States, Russia, and Europe. What distinguishes the current report is the combination of power, duration, and compact design that has been publicly associated with a single system.
From Research to Real-World Use
Advanced systems like this typically follow a long development path. Laboratory demonstrations are followed by further refinement, testing under different conditions, and eventual integration with other technologies if practical applications are pursued.
Public reports of research milestones serve to document progress and establish reference points for future work. They also help signal where scientific and engineering efforts are being concentrated.
Whether and how the reported system will be adapted for specific uses remains an open question. What is clear is that achieving stable, sustained operation at this power level represents a solid foundation for further development.
Keeping the Achievement in Perspective
Media coverage of advanced technologies often focuses on dramatic possibilities, but the underlying reality is usually more nuanced. Performance depends on many interacting factors, including system integration, environment, and countermeasures.
Recognizing these complexities does not detract from the reported work. On the contrary, it places the achievement in its proper context as a meaningful advance within a challenging field rather than a finished product.
Conclusion
The reported development of a 20 GW high-power microwave system capable of sustained 60-second operation highlights the depth of China’s capabilities in pulsed-power engineering and high-energy research. If confirmed through continued testing, it marks a significant step forward in system stability, duration, and compact design.
More broadly, the work reflects the value of long-term institutional investment and specialized talent. Progress at this level is rarely the result of isolated effort. It emerges from years of focused research, accumulated expertise, and the ability to tackle difficult engineering problems over time.
As further details emerge and related systems evolve, the full significance of this development will become clearer. What is already evident is that China’s research institutions are advancing steadily in a field that remains technically demanding and strategically important.
References
South China Morning Post. Chinese scientists build world’s first 20 GW microwave weapon that can fire 60-second bursts.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3342443/chinese-scientists-build-world-first-20gw-microwave-weapon-can-fire-60-second-bursts
Interesting Engineering. China’s 20 GW microwave system and its potential applications.
https://interestingengineering.com/space/china-microwave-weapon-fry-satellites
New Atlas. China claims major advance in high-powered microwave technology.
https://newatlas.com/military/starlink-smasher-microwave/
Euronews Next. China develops compact microwave driver for high-power applications.
https://www.euronews.com/next/2026/02/06/china-develops-compact-microwave-driver-that-could-power-a-starlink-killer-weapon