Chinese submarines soon equipped with lasers to discreetly destroy satellites?

China has recently unveiled a technological advancement that could transform the strategies of space defense.

According to a study conducted by the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the country could be capable of neutralizing satellites, such as those of the Starlink network, by using submarines armed with high-power lasers. This innovation could offer China a means to defend its interests without exposing its armed forces to direct retaliation.


The study describes a submarine equipped with a laser capable of remaining submerged while deploying an optoelectronic mast to target satellites.

This weapon would allow for discreet attacks, avoiding the risks associated with surface-to-air missiles, which are often detectable due to the smoke trails they produce. Wang Dan, a professor at the Naval Submarine Academy, asserts that this technology could be massively deployed to counter threats to China, specifically in response to dense and resilient satellite networks like Starlink.

One of the main challenges in anti-satellite missions is discretion. Missile attacks, though common, leave visible traces, revealing the attacker's position and making them vulnerable. Lasers, on the other hand, offer a stealthier solution. According to Wang Dan's team, the Starlink satellites, due to their number and redundancy, render traditional destruction methods ineffective. Even if several satellites are destroyed, others quickly replace them, complicating the attackers' efforts.

The document published by Wang Dan's team details the attack process: one or more submarines are deployed in a specific maritime area, where they wait for the satellites to come within range. The laser is then activated at the optimal moment to maximize the chances of success. This development highlights the rapid evolution of submarine military capabilities, which could play a central role in future space warfare strategies.

This new capability of China could have major implications for international security, particularly concerning the balance of power in space. As communication and reconnaissance satellites become increasingly essential to military operations, the ability to neutralize them without being detected could significantly alter conflict dynamics.