Recently, a tech company in Jilin Province successfully conducted a high-speed laser image transmission test between its independently developed vehicle-mounted laser communication ground station and the “Jilin-1” satellite constellation MF02A04 laser terminal. This is China’s first exclusively and autonomously completed operational application test for space-to-earth laser high-speed image transmission, with its technical capabilities reaching an internationally advanced level. Many might find this news bewildering, but the strategic forces on the U.S. Pacific coast are probably losing sleep over it.
According to public data, the laser image transmission test achieved a communication bandwidth of up to 10Gb per second, more than 10 times that of traditional microwave data transmission. In the future, this will expand to between 40Gbps and 100Gbps. Unlike previous radio wave transmissions that occupied channels and could be detected, these laser transmissions are point-to-point, difficult to detect by third parties, and boast much higher speeds and bandwidths. Moreover, they are compact and can be deployed anywhere at any time.
A look at the research entity reveals the civilian applications of this technology, significantly enhancing the efficiency of data acquisition from the Jilin-1 satellite. It’s highly applicable in areas like land and resources monitoring, land surveying, mineral resource development, smart city construction, environmental monitoring, disaster prevention, and emergency response. For military applications, stealth aircraft could use lasers to communicate with satellites, ensuring radio silence and resistance to electronic warfare. Furthermore, submarines wouldn’t need to surface to communicate; lasers can penetrate water even better than visible light, allowing submarines at depths of 100-200 meters to receive transmissions. This technology can also detect and distinguish sensitive targets more efficiently, likely causing anxiety for the U.S.
Aircraft carriers are a crucial component of U.S. strategic weaponry, but their movements are no secret. Years ago, the Jilin-1 had already showcased video footage of the U.S. “Nimitz” aircraft carrier entering a port. The new laser communication stations can transmit clearer, faster updates on the movements of these U.S. carriers. More importantly, they can monitor nuclear-powered submarines in real-time. As mentioned, our submarines can communicate without surfacing, transmitting the real-time location of enemy submarines without being easily detected.
Additionally, the recent successful sea trial of the “Navigator” deep-sea intelligent optical guidance device and system provides robust technical support for deep-sea exploration and other marine activities. Coupled with this laser communication ground station, it becomes an optimal combination for tracking U.S. nuclear submarines. Even the stealth capabilities of U.S. aircraft can be detected on a physical level.
Though many are skeptical, citing laser transmission’s vulnerability to weather conditions like smog or snow, such concerns are overblown. Given the portability of the ground stations, simply deploying multiple bases should mitigate this issue, especially since it’s improbable for all of China to be shrouded in clouds or fog simultaneously.
Laser communications on Earth pave the way for interstellar communication, where weather will be a non-issue. These days, while the U.S. is embroiled in internal conflicts, budget disputes, and stretched thin on multiple fronts, China’s progress is notable, from the “Chapter Three” quantum computer to the debut of hydrogen-powered vessels to space-to-earth laser transmissions. The trajectories of China and the U.S. seem like parallel lines, with one steadily rising and the other seemingly on the decline, bound to converge at some point.
Source: 7th Observation Room