This reads like a James Bond movie. Chinese scientists have been devising sophisticated ways to destroy Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network, including using stealth submarines fitted with space-shooting lasers, amid Chinese government fears that the technology poses a risk to its strategic interests. As of 2025, China's military, specifically the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), is estimated to operate between 65 and 75 submarines. This fleet includes both nuclear-powered and diesel-electric submarines, with a mix of ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs), and conventional attack submarines (SSKs). The exact number can fluctuate as new submarines are commissioned and older ones retired, but China maintains one of the largest submarine fleets in the world.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has expressed concerns that Starlink could be used by its foes for spying or in a military attack. Chinese researchers have published dozens of open-source papers that look for strategies to counter the threat posed by Starlink, according to a review by AP.[1]
Starlink is a constellation of low-orbit satellites that provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet access to users around the globe. These satellites, deployed by SpaceX, have rapidly multiplied in orbit, their presence now numbering in the thousands and forming a digital mesh that encircles the planet. For many remote communities, Starlink represents newfound connectivity and opportunity. Yet, for world powers, its proliferation has provoked new anxieties: not only about its technological reach, but the opaque intersection of public and private interests guiding its expansion.
The network’s ability to maintain resilient communications even under duress has attracted military interest, especially in contested regions. Reports suggest that Starlink terminals have been deployed in conflict zones, sometimes outpacing conventional infrastructure and blurring the boundaries between civilian and defense applications.
China’s fears about Starlink have been sparked by the company’s close ties to American intelligence and defense, according to the AP.
Researchers from China’s National University of Defense Technology detailed their concerns about Starlink in a 2023 paper. “As the United States integrates Starlink technology into military space assets to gain a strategic advantage over its adversaries, other countries increasingly perceive Starlink as a security threat in nuclear, space, and cyber domains,” the paper said.
The technology has been crucial for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Ukrainian forces have used the technology for battlefield communications and reconnaissance drones.
The US has Lasers Too - In the vast expanse of the ocean, a streak of white light pierces the sky. It’s not lightning, but a weapon — a high-energy laser fired from the deck of a US Navy destroyer. This is HELIOS, the High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance, and it represents a bold step into the future of military technology. Last year, aboard the USS Preble, the Navy successfully tested this futuristic weapon, targeting an unmanned aerial drone. The test, described in a recent Department of Defense report, marks a significant milestone in the development of directed-energy weapons. Such weapons can instantly destroy incoming threats, such as kamikaze drones and ballistic missiles, without relying on the relatively slow-acting and extremely expensive air defense. A drone killed by a laser would cost pennies in expended energy. These systems, long the stuff of science fiction, are now becoming a reality — and they could change the way wars are fought.
In addition to destroying drones, HELIOS can blind enemy sensors, conduct long-range surveillance, and assess battle damage. This makes it what military people call a “multi-mission system. HELIOS enhances the overall combat system effectiveness of the ship to deter future threats and provide additional protection for Sailors,” said Rick Cordaro, vice president of Lockheed Martin Advanced Product Solutions.
Why Lasers Matter Now
The rise of drone warfare, most exemplified by the swarms hovering above the battlefield in Ukraine, has made systems like HELIOS increasingly vital. In the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, US Navy ships have faced a barrage of drones and missiles launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Traditional defenses, such as missiles, are expensive and limited in number. Directed-energy weapons, on the other hand, offer a cost-effective alternative. “The integration of lasers on Navy vessels would also allow crews to conserve munitions,” Military Times reported. This is especially important as the Navy faces evolving threats and supply-chain problems. Ramping up missile production not only incurs significant costs but also requires considerable time, as scaling up production lines and training qualified personnel can take years. But developing these weapons hasn’t been easy, nor cheap. The US Navy has spent $1 billion annually on R&D for high-energy lasers and microwaves, yet progress has been slow. Challenges include finding reliable power sources aboard ships and ensuring the systems work in adverse conditions like fog or wind.
Despite these hurdles, the Navy is pushing forward. The 2025 budget includes funding for further tests, including one against a cruise missile. If successful, HELIOS could become a cornerstone of the Navy’s defense strategy. Similar laser-based weapon systems could be deployed for ground operations, in both defensive and offensive actions.
For now, the US Navy’s journey into this new era of warfare is just beginning, and the world is watching.
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[1] https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/space-exploration/china-plots-to-blow-starlink-out-of-the-sky-as-elon-musk-s-satellites-fuel-war-fears/ar-AA1JFfmn/
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