High-Power Microwave Air Defense System

The Chinese High-Power Microwave (HPM) Air Defense System is a mobile directed-energy weapon designed to counter unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drone swarms, and precision-guided munitions. It utilizes intense bursts of electromagnetic energy to disrupt, degrade, or permanently damage the electronic components of incoming aerial threats. This system serves as a critical close-in defense layer within the PLA's integrated air defense network, offering a virtually unlimited magazine and a low cost-per-shot.

Development of China's tactical high-power microwave weapons accelerated in the 2010s to address the asymmetric threat posed by low-cost drone swarms. Key research has been conducted by defense conglomerates like CETC and CASIC, alongside military academic institutions. Mobile prototypes mounted on 8x8 armored chassis were publicly unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2022 and 2024, signaling the technology's transition from laboratory testing to field evaluation. The system is currently undergoing active development and operational testing, representing a strategic shift toward cost-effective, non-kinetic defense capabilities for the People's Liberation Army.