# Space Force gets first mobile high-powered electromagnetic beam weapon to cripple enemy satellites — plans to deploy 32 ‘Meadowlands’ units to detect, deny, disrupt, and degrade hostile space assets — retained record

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source: [news](https://highsignal.app/data/news) (news:toms-hardware)  published 2026-07-08 10:00 ingested 2026-07-09 09:30

[original source ↗](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/space/space-force-gets-first-mobile-high-powered-electromagnetic-beam-weapon-to-cripple-enemy-satellites-plans-to-deploy-32-meadowlands-units-to-detect-deny-disrupt-and-degrade-hostile-space-assets)

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Space Force gets first mobile high-powered electromagnetic beam weapon to cripple enemy satellites — plans to deploy 32 ‘Meadowlands’ units to detect, deny, disrupt, and degrade hostile space assets
System uses directional antennas and high‑power RF amplifiers for highly targeted electromagnetic warfare.
U.S. Space Force Combat Forces Command has announced that the first Meadowlands Counter Communications System (CCS) has been delivered for operational duty. This is a powerful new electromagnetic warfare (EW) device in a wheeled mobile and air-transportable form factor, designed to detect, deny, disrupt, and degrade adversary capabilities around the globe and in space. To be clear, Meadowlands isn’t a laser, microwave, particle, or plasma weapon. Instead, its highly targeted electromagnetic warfare abilities rely on a muscular array of directional antennas and high‑power RF amplifiers.
Our acquisition and operational collaboration wins again – this time for the operational acceptance of Meadowlands. The #USSF electromagnetic warfare platform now better detects, denies, disrupts, & degrades adversary capabilities. More: https://t.co/zRwJrmOd9g pic.twitter.com/WeuUhUitYlJune 30, 2026
“We have exceptionally trained and skilled electromagnetic warfare professionals who are highly motivated and excited about integrating this new Meadowlands capability,” said U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Ryan Skilling, 4th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron commander. “This upgraded system enables us to more effectively and efficiently support the joint scheme of maneuver across the continuum of conflict.”
Meadowlands arrives to provide a critical upgrade to the existing Counter Communications System (CCS) 10.2, notes Space Force. The new system’s advances are described as a “huge milestone” in capability, as well as being lighter, more compact, and more easily transportable. Meadowlands is set to be part of a robust toolkit that will help deliver “spectrum dominance” to the U.S. Space Command and Department of War.
The efficacy of systems like Meadowlands has already been demonstrated in joint force applications like Operation Midnight Hammer. In this example, EW systems were used to successfully create a “silence zone” over Iran for hours to ensure secure bomber ingress and egress during that operation. Meadowlands units can operate in both forward austere environments and from secure rear echelons.
In addition to silence zones, typical EW tasks Meadowlands will be used for include interference with enemy satellite functions, and jamming uplink and/or downlink signals. More cunningly it can change or corrupt data packets, initiate feedback loops, and spoof enemy assets.
While it celebrates the arrival of its first operational next-gen CCS, Space Force Combat Forces Command intends to build its Meadowlands fleet to 32 units in due course.
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alan.campbell99 Hmm, what are the odds a few starlink sats get in the way of any beams, whoops?Reply -
USAFRet Reply
Why would you think that might happen?alan.campbell99 said:Hmm, what are the odds a few starlink sats get in the way of any beams, whoops?
The DoD and Space Force is a direct customer of the StarLink tech.
https://www.spacex.com/starshieldhttps://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-2-29-billion-space-force-contract-for-military-data-network/ -
Michael Pun Starlink on balloon technology wouldn't get it. They would just fly on a conventional high altitude jet to use it. They have been using these energy beams called DEWs for a long time. Us peons just didn't know about it.Reply -
usertests Reply
Gotta read the article. This is not a maser or something that will light drones on fire or fry satellites to a crisp. It's an advanced jammer with spoofing and other capabilities.alan.campbell99 said:Hmm, what are the odds a few starlink sats get in the way of any beams, whoops?
To be clear, Meadowlands isn’t a laser, microwave, particle, or plasma weapon. Instead, its highly targeted electromagnetic warfare abilities rely on a muscular array of directional antennas and high‑power RF amplifiers.
In addition to silence zones, typical EW tasks Meadowlands will be used for include interference with enemy satellite functions, and jamming uplink and/or downlink signals. More cunningly it can change or corrupt data packets, initiate feedback loops, and spoof enemy assets.
It could be so precisely targeted that there would be effectively no chance of affecting Starlink on accident. Maybe Starlink satellites can operate for a bit (as in maintaining their orbit) while being jammed, and since they are in VLEO orbits, they are getting out of the way in a hurry, unlike geostationary satellites for example. -
USAFRet Reply
More cunningly it can change or corrupt data packets, initiate feedback loops, and spoof enemy assets.call101010 said:why not just shoot them down ? why allow them to get closer anyways?
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document fetched 2026-07-09 09:30 · canonical https://tomshardware.com/tech-industry/space/space-force-gets-first-mobile-high-powered-electromagnetic-beam-weapon-to-cripple-enemy-satellites-plans-to-deploy-32-meadowlands-units-to-detect-deny-disrupt-and-degrade-hostile-space-assets