The US has raised alarms about satellites from China and Russia. Aimed initially at inspecting and fixing spacecraft, these satellites might target US assets.
A US Space Force report reveals this dual function, complicating defense strategies. Both nations are crafting weapons to attack or disrupt satellites.
China progresses with lasers to harm US satellites’ sensors.
These operations, kept hidden, avoid global backlash, says the upcoming “Competing in Space” report.
The document omits US’s own countermeasures, like the Meadowlands systems, which delay was announced from 2022 to October.
The space traffic surge is notable: from 806 satellites in 2002 to 7,096 in 2022, with the US owning 4,723.
Since 2015, China and Russia have expanded their space warfare capabilities. China, for instance, has launched satellites that could act as weapons.
China likely aims to jam satellite communications crucial for US military and government tasks.
In response, the US launched “Silent Barker,” a constellation to detect threats from these nations’ spacecraft.
China’s 300+ remote sensing satellites bolster its military surveillance capabilities. Russia, though having fewer, possesses highly capable sensing satellites.
This evolving space landscape underscores the growing strategic importance of space operations and the US’s commitment to safeguarding its space assets against emerging threats.