Relativistic Klystron Amplifier: China Develops Laser Weapon to Destroy Satellites in Space.

Why in news?

• The researchers from China have developed a microwave machine ‘Relativistic Klystron Amplifier (RKA)’ to jam/destroy satellites or sensitive electronics in satellites in space. It will function as a high-powered laser weapon.
• The device can generate a wave burst of 5 Megawatts (MW) in the Ka-band. This band is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum used for civil and military purposes.
• RKA can be mounted onto satellites for attacking enemy assets in space.
• Notably, China is currently denying that their RKA is a Directed Energy Weapon (DEW), which is a system that uses concentrated electromagnetic energy to destroy enemy equipment in a physical conflict.
• However, if RKA were built at scale, it could generate beams strong enough to go through metallic objects moving at high speeds.