China and Russia have reportedly launched dual-purpose satellites that could be used for non-offensive and offensive strategies, according to a report by the U.S. Space Force (USSF).
According to the USSF report titled "Competing in Space," Moscow and Beijing are designing and and testing counter-space weapons to "deny, disrupt or destroy satellites and space services." It added that the two adversaries "often mask or conceal these activities to avoid international condemnation."
As per the USSF's paper, 7,096 satellites were in orbit as of 2022 – a huge jump from the 806 recorded back in 2002. The U.S. leads with 4,723 satellites, followed by China's 647 and Russia's 199. Meanwhile, the rest of the world comprised the remaining 1,527 satellites in orbit.
While the report is partly a collection of earlier revealed U.S. warning, it brings a useful summary of the progress that China and Russia have made since they started the crucial modernization of space and counter-space assets in 2015.
In particular, the USSF pointed out that Beijing is building "satellite inspection and repair systems that could function as weapons and it has launched multiple satellites to test orbital maintenance and debris mitigation." The dual-use nature of such spacecraft makes counter space tests or hostile activity difficult to detect, attribute or mitigate, added the report.
Aside from these dual-purpose space objects, China now runs more than 300 remote sensing satellites with various sensors. This improves the Chinese People's Liberation Army's "ability to observe U.S. aircraft carriers, expeditionary strike groups and deployed air wings." Moreover, it is also developing – and may be close to deploying – ground-based lasers "capable of damaging and not just temporarily blinding U.S. satellite sensors." (Related: Space Force to launch network of SPY SATELLITES to counter growing Chinese and Russian space capabilities.)
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Grab and go: Satellites can pull and damage other spacecraft
The report expounded on two particular Chinese satellites – Shijian-17 and Shijian-21. It recounted that in January 2022, the Shijian-21 satellite pulled an extinct Chinese geostationary satellite using its robotic arm into an orbit where it would cause no threat to other spacecraft. Just like the latter, the Shijian-17 also has a robotic arm to grab other satellites.
Meanwhile, the report said Russia "has deployed multiple prototype orbital anti-satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)." The Cosmos 2504, 2519 and 2536 were launched by Moscow to "test kinetic kill capabilities," with one such model trying its anti-satellite weapons capability in 2019 "by ejecting an object near a Russian satellite."
According to the USSF, China is possibly making jammers target a broad range of satellite communications assisting government and military operations. Its military exercises frequently include jammers against satellite communications, space-based radars and satellite navigation systems like GPS.
Wang Wenbin, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, remarked that Beijing "committed to using outer space in a peaceful manner." He told reporters during a Jan. 26 media briefing in the Chinese capital: "The U.S. has been hyping up the China threat in outer space and smearing China."
To counter the threats from Beijing and Moscow, the USSF carried out in September 2023 the first launch of a recent constellation of early warning satellites. The system dubbed "Silent Barker" is designed to track Chinese or Russian spacecraft that could disable or damage orbiting American systems.
The report did not refer to identical, hugely classified, U.S. offensive capabilities like the portable Meadowlands systems intended to temporarily jam Chinese and Russian satellites. The first of a possible 30 of the systems created by L3 Harris Technologies Inc. was previously to be delivered in 2022 but now is anticipated by October, as stated by USSF officials.
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Watch the video below about China's space station and anti-satellite weapons that put American space assets at risk.
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Defense Secretary Esper: China, Russia have “killer satellites” in space.
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