In recent years, China has continued to report advances in a range of so-called “new concept” weapons, including laser systems and electromagnetic railguns. Among these emerging capabilities, high-power microwave weapons have drawn particular attention.
First introduced to the public at the Zhuhai Airshow in November 2024, the systems gained further prominence during the September 3, 2025 military parade, where they appeared as part of a new air defense formation. Their appearance signaled that high-power microwave technology is moving beyond experimentation and into an operational role within China’s layered air defense architecture.
Two systems in particular have been highlighted: the PLB-625E vehicle-mounted microwave weapon system, also known as “Hurricane 2000,” and the more advanced “Hurricane 3000,” a highly mobile vehicle-mounted high-power microwave platform. The former integrates detection, tracking, and strike capabilities into a single vehicle and is designed primarily to intercept light and small unmanned aerial vehicles within a range of approximately two kilometers. Its mission focus is low-altitude security, especially in scenarios involving small drones or coordinated drone swarms.
The Hurricane 3000 represents a comprehensive enhancement over its predecessor. Its effective interception range against light and small drones and drone swarms reportedly exceeds three kilometers. In addition to extended range, improvements have been made in detection capability, tracking precision, sustained operational capacity, and overall vehicle-level automation.
A single vehicle can conduct detection-to-engagement operations independently, targeting micro and light unmanned platforms. At the same time, the system is designed to operate in coordination with other air defense assets, such as laser weapons and missile-artillery systems, forming an integrated “terminal counter-drone” network. Within this structure, the microwave system functions as one component of a layered defensive triad, tasked with missions ranging from terminal defense and border security to urban protection and critical infrastructure security.
From a technical perspective, the working principle of such systems follows a structured engagement chain. Radar is first used to detect moving targets through analysis of Doppler electromagnetic return signals, enabling initial detection and tracking. Once target position data are acquired, electro-optical systems assume a complementary role, employing optical sensors and servo mechanisms to capture and automatically track the object within the field of view.
When engagement parameters are met, the high-power microwave antenna is directed at the target and emits concentrated microwave energy. The energy disrupts or damages the electronic systems of the drone, neutralizing it without the need for kinetic impact. While external designs may vary among different manufacturers, the fundamental operational principle of microwave-based directed-energy systems remains broadly consistent.
The emergence of microwave weapons must also be understood within the broader context of China’s evolving counter-drone strategy. China has invested heavily in a multi-layered anti-UAV architecture that incorporates missiles, anti-aircraft artillery, laser systems, and microwave platforms. Debate has emerged over whether directed-energy weapons might displace traditional missile and artillery systems, particularly in terminal defense roles.
However, the prevailing view within Chinese defense discussions emphasizes complementarity rather than substitution. Missiles and artillery retain advantages in range, precision, and adaptability across diverse target sets. Directed-energy systems, by contrast, offer strengths in resisting saturation attacks and in cost-efficiency per engagement. Microwave weapons, in particular, are often described as having strong resilience against swarm tactics, since a single emission can potentially affect multiple drones within a beam footprint. The strategic logic, therefore, is not that one system can dominate all scenarios, but that layered integration enhances overall defensive resilience.
The development of high-power microwave weapons has presented significant technical challenges. One of the principal obstacles has been the miniaturization and weight reduction of high-power microwave sources. Traditionally, large pulsed power sources have been associated with nuclear effects simulation or laboratory research environments, where size and weight are less constrained. Adapting such systems for vehicle-mounted deployment requires extensive engineering breakthroughs in compact power generation and energy management.
A second challenge lies in system integration. To meet air defense requirements, detection, tracking, microwave emission, and onboard power supply systems must be integrated into a single mobile platform. This involves not only physical integration of hardware but also complex information and control system coordination. A third major challenge concerns electromagnetic safety. High-power microwave weapons must be engineered to avoid damaging their own platforms or nearby friendly systems, while also limiting unintended radiation in non-target directions. Ensuring electromagnetic compatibility in a dense operational environment is essential for practical deployment.
Looking ahead, Chinese defense planning envisions continued development of both conventional and directed-energy air defense systems. In the field of anti-aircraft artillery, trends include further light-weighting, improved precision, higher rates of fire, and deeper integration with missile systems. The objective is to create highly mobile, dense firepower units capable of countering diverse aerial threats, including cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, precision-guided munitions, low-flying fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned platforms. Such systems are framed as the “last line of firepower” in an integrated air defense network, responsible for point defense and area protection.
High-power microwave weapons are expected to evolve in parallel with operational requirements. Future development is likely to emphasize enhanced counter-drone and counter-swarm capabilities, leveraging their cost-effectiveness and resistance to saturation tactics. At the same time, potential application areas may expand beyond physical drone neutralization to include disruption of information links, interference with airborne electronic reconnaissance systems, counter-precision-guided weapon roles, and even non-lethal active denial applications. The trajectory suggests that microwave systems will not function in isolation but as components within a broader, networked defense ecosystem.
Taken together, the public debut and subsequent analysis of these systems indicate that high-power microwave weapons are transitioning from experimental concepts to operational assets. Their integration alongside missiles, artillery, and laser systems reflects a strategic approach centered on layered defense, technological diversification, and adaptation to emerging threats such as drone swarms and precision-guided attacks. As these systems mature, their effectiveness will depend not only on technological refinement but also on how successfully they are incorporated into comprehensive air defense doctrines.
Source: Guancha, souhu, sina, top war
